Zhytomyr police arrest 17-year-old suspected of methadone scheme targeting soldiers

Ukrainian police detained a 17-year-old girl in Zhytomyr on Friday on suspicion of collaborating with Russian security services to poison Ukrainian soldiers. Authorities said two recipients died after consuming the substances.

The unnamed suspect was arrested in the city west of Kyiv. Police stated she acted on instructions from a Russian handler and was promised a minimum of 5,000 hryvnias, equivalent to approximately $111, for her role in the operation.

According to a police statement, the girl contacted soldiers through the messaging app Telegram. She mailed them packages described as free drugs and directed the recipients to take the medication on camera. Police explained that the capsules contained a lethal dose of methadone without the soldiers' knowledge.

Investigators confirmed that two soldiers in the Zhytomyr region died from the poisoning. They identified four other individuals who received the packages, a move officials said prevented four additional murders across the country.

The suspect faces charges for aiding and abetting the premeditated murder of two people as part of a prior conspiracy. She is also suspected of shipping drugs and psychotropic substances for distribution. If convicted, she could receive a prison sentence of up to 15 years.

Police warned that Russia seeks to kill Ukrainian personnel and destabilize the domestic situation. They advised the public to avoid accepting medication, food, or drinks from unfamiliar sources. Ukrainian authorities have opened thousands of investigations into alleged collaboration with Moscow since the war began in 2022, with both sides accusing each other of using minors for sabotage.