Teen Detained for Methadone Soldier Plot

Ukrainian authorities detained a 17-year-old woman in Zhytomyr on Friday, charging her with aiding and abetting the premeditated murder of two soldiers who died after ingesting mailed methadone. The suspect was paid at least 5,000 hryvnias, roughly 111 US dollars, for her role in the operation.

The arrest follows a pattern of suspected sabotage during the ongoing conflict. Police stated that the teenager received instructions from a Russian handler to identify soldiers via the messaging application Telegram. She contacted the victims, who were unaware of the source of the packages. The suspects then mailed capsules labeled as free drugs to the recipients.

The police report indicates that the soldiers were instructed to consume the medication while recording video. The capsules contained a lethal dose of methadone. Two soldiers in the Zhytomyr region died from the poisoning. Investigators have identified four other individuals who received similar packages, an effort that authorities say prevented additional deaths across the country.

The suspect faces charges for shipping drugs and psychotropic substances for distribution. If convicted, she could receive a prison sentence of up to 15 years. Police described the case as part of a broader conspiracy to destabilize the region through targeted poisonings.

Ukrainian officials have previously cited cases of minors being recruited for sabotage. In 2023, the wife of Kyrylo Budanov, then head of military intelligence, was accused of being poisoned by Russia. Several other GUR personnel were diagnosed with the same condition. That same year, French prosecutors opened an investigation into the poisoning of a Russian journalist in Paris. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated he has survived at least five assassination attempts since the war began in 2022.

Police have advised the public to avoid accepting food, drinks, or medication from unfamiliar sources. The investigation continues as authorities examine the network of contacts and the specific methods used to distribute the lethal doses.