Teen detained in Zhytomyr for mailing lethal methadone to troops
Police say the 17-year-old acted on orders from a Russian handler and faces up to 15 years in prison after two soldiers died.
By Yuna Fletcher ·
Ukrainian police announced on Friday the detention of a 17-year-old girl in Zhytomyr, a city west of Kyiv, on suspicion that she assisted Russian security services in poisoning Ukrainian soldiers.
The suspect, who has not been named publicly, allegedly followed instructions from a Russian handler. Police stated she was promised at least 5,000 hryvnias, approximately $111, for the work performed.
Investigators indicated the teen contacted soldiers through Telegram, presenting the packages as free drugs. The recipients were instructed to consume the capsules on camera. Police confirmed the capsules contained a lethal dose of methadone, a fact unknown to the soldiers.
Two soldiers in the Zhytomyr region died from the poisoning. Authorities said they identified other recipients of the packages, a move they credited with preventing four additional deaths across the country.
The teen faces charges of aiding and abetting premeditated murder as part of a prior conspiracy. She is also suspected of shipping drugs and psychotropic substances for distribution. If found guilty, she could spend up to 15 years in prison.
Police warned that the Russian objective is to kill Ukrainians and destabilize the domestic situation. They urged the public to be cautious about accepting medication, food, or drinks from unfamiliar sources. This case joins a series of incidents since 2022 where both nations have accused each other of using minors for sabotage, including the 2023 poisoning of the wife of then-head of military intelligence Kyrylo Budanov.
Source: CBS News
