Ukrainian Teen Detained After Mailing Lethal Methadone to Six Soldiers
Police say a 17-year-old in Zhytomyr was paid 5,000 hryvnias by a Russian handler to send poisoned capsules to troops.
By Fatima Laurent ·
Two Ukrainian soldiers died after taking capsules that police say contained a lethal dose of methadone. A 17-year-old girl in Zhytomyr has been detained on suspicion of packaging and mailing the drugs under the direction of Russian security services.
The suspect, whose name was not released, was arrested in Zhytomyr, a city west of Kyiv, on Friday. Police stated she was promised at least 5,000 hryvnias, approximately $111, for her role in the scheme. She allegedly received instructions from a Russian handler and contacted the victims through the messaging app Telegram.
According to a police statement, the soldiers received parcels labeled as free drugs. They were instructed to take the medication on camera. The recipients did not know the capsules contained methadone until after they had consumed them. Investigators confirmed that two soldiers in the Zhytomyr region died from the poisoning.
Police said they identified four other individuals who received similar packages. Authorities stated this effort prevented four additional murders across the country. The suspect 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, the 17-year-old faces up to 15 years in prison. Police warned that Russia aims to kill Ukrainian citizens and destabilize the country. They urged the public to avoid accepting medication, food, or drinks of dubious origin from strangers.
Ukrainian authorities have opened thousands of investigations into collaboration with the enemy since the war began in 2022. Both Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of recruiting minors for sabotage and poisoning. In 2023, Ukraine accused Russia of poisoning the wife of Kyrylo Budanov, then head of military intelligence, and several other GUR personnel were diagnosed with the same condition. That same year, Paris prosecutors investigated the poisoning of a Russian journalist. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has claimed he survived at least five or six assassination attempts since the invasion began.
The case is part of a wider pattern of poisoning allegations that have surfaced during the conflict. Police continue to review the network of contacts the suspect used to identify further potential victims.
Source: CBS News
