The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has reported thwarting over 50 attempts to lure military personnel into traps since the beginning of 2026.
According to the SBU, Russian intelligence agencies are utilizing dating websites and messaging apps to entice soldiers into fake dates, where they could be targeted for terrorist acts.
These operations often involve the use of improvised explosive devices and lethal poisons to eliminate Ukrainian defenders.
The SBU is urging military personnel to exercise extreme caution when engaging in online dating and to report any suspicious contacts.
Context
- In March 2025, law enforcement in the Kharkiv region detained a woman who, under the guise of “volunteer” assistance, delivered medication and food to a military member, allegedly laced with poison.
- Another woman is suspected of sending a service member a drink laced with a lethal dose of methadone, which she suggested consuming during an online date via video call.
- Additionally, in January 2026, SBU counterintelligence apprehended a suspected hitman believed to have attempted to stab a Ukrainian soldier in Zaporizhzhia.
