Trap Russia Uses Teen Girls Recruited Online in Assassinations Against Ukrainian Military: Promises of Money, Fake Relationships and Poison
Russian intelligence services are increasingly recruiting young women, including minors, to target Ukrainian soldiers through dating apps and social media, authorities in Kiev say.
Teenage girls recruited through Telegram for deadly missions Photo: pexels
According to the head of the National Police of Ukraine, Ivan Vyhivski, since the beginning of 2026, six assassinations on command or attempted assassinations of Ukrainian soldiers, organized through the Telegram application, have been documented.
One of the plots was foiled before it could be carried out, but the other cases are under investigation by authorities. The Ukrainian official warned that young people have become one of the main targets of Russian recruiters.
“Young people today are one of the main targets of Russian recruiters,” said Vyhivski, according to kyivpost.
How the recruitment scheme works
According to the National Police of Ukraine, Russian recruiters identify people willing to collaborate through Telegram and other messaging apps, promising them quick earnings in exchange for completing certain tasks.
Investigators say recruits are trained to contact Ukrainian servicemen through dating apps or social media and develop personal relationships with them. The Russian coordinators would provide them with funds for renting apartments, alcohol and other expenses, including providing them with information on places where they can obtain methadone and other toxic substances.
During the meetings, the targeted soldiers were allegedly given drugs or poisons in their drinks.
“In reality, we are talking about premeditated crimes organized by the special services of the aggressor state through Ukrainian citizens,” stated the head of the National Police.
17-year-old teenager accused of poisoning a Ukrainian soldier
One of the most famous cases investigated by the authorities occurred in the Jîtomîr region. On June 5, law enforcement detained a 17-year-old teenage girl from Berdychiv, suspected of poisoning a Ukrainian military officer on the instructions of a Russian coordinator.
According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the young woman was allegedly recruited after looking for “quick money” opportunities on Telegram channels.
After being involved in courier and drug distribution activities, she would have been given the mission to establish relations with the military and secretly introduce toxic substances into their drinks.
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Investigators claim that the teenager began a relationship with a 27-year-old military man from Jîtomîr. During a meeting in a rented apartment, she allegedly administered a toxic substance in his drink, causing his death.
Authorities say the girl later tried to pass the death off as natural, but was arrested. She is currently in pre-trial detention and is being investigated for premeditated murder and possibly high treason committed during martial law.
Another case, investigated in Uzhhorod
Ukrainian authorities are also investigating the death of a soldier in Uzhhorod in April. In this case, a 26-year-old woman from Zaporozhye is suspected of having acted in the interests of the Russian intelligence services.
According to investigators, Russian agents allegedly used the woman's identity to create a profile on a dating website and contact the military. During a meeting, she allegedly administered a toxic substance in her drink.
The investigation shows that the initial purpose of the operation was to gain access to the information stored on the victim's phone after he lost consciousness. However, the soldier died shortly after the meeting.
The suspect is charged with high treason and faces a life sentence.
Extensive youth recruitment campaign
According to the Financial Times, citing Ukrainian intelligence officials, 21% of people detained in Ukraine for collaborating with Russia in 2025 were teenagers.
Security sources say that Russian recruiters use platforms such as Telegram, TikTok, Discord, Facebook and online games to attract young people by offering them cryptocurrency payments for various missions.
If initially the tasks were aimed at gathering information, distributing propaganda materials or acts of arson, recent operations have included espionage activities, handling explosives and attacks against Ukrainian military personnel.
According to the officials cited, the youngest person Russia allegedly tried to recruit for sabotage activities was only 11 years old.
The head of the National Police of Ukraine has asked the military to exercise caution in relationships initiated on the Internet, warning that Russian intelligence services are actively using social networks and dating platforms to identify targets and gather information.
“I want to emphasize that no promise of reward exempts you from criminal liability. People who agree to cooperate with representatives of the aggressor state will be held accountable according to the law”declared Ivan Vyhivski.
