Two Soldiers Dead, Four Saved in Methadone Scheme

Ukrainian police detained a 17-year-old woman in Zhytomyr on Friday, charging her with aiding the premeditated murder of two soldiers. The suspect, whose name has not been released, allegedly operated under the direction of a Russian security handler. She was promised payment of at least 5,000 hryvnias, approximately $111, for her role in the scheme.

Investigators report that the suspect contacted soldiers via the messaging platform Telegram. She sent them parcels containing capsules filled with a lethal dose of methadone. The recipients were told the packages contained free drugs and were instructed to consume the contents while recording video. The statement from police noted that the soldiers did not realize the capsules held a fatal concentration of the substance.

Two soldiers in the Zhytomyr region died from the poisoning. Authorities stated that they have identified other individuals who received similar packages. This identification process prevented four additional murders across Ukraine. The suspect now faces charges for shipping drugs and psychotropic substances for distribution alongside the murder count. If convicted, she could serve up to 15 years in prison.

Police officials warned that the Russian objective is to kill Ukrainian personnel and destabilize the internal situation. They urged the public to avoid accepting medication, food, or drinks from people they do not know well. This case adds to a series of incidents where Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of recruiting minors for sabotage operations since the war began in 2022.

Ukrainian authorities have opened thousands of investigations into collaboration with the enemy. In 2023, Ukraine accused Russian services of poisoning the wife of Kyrylo Budanov, then head of military intelligence and now a presidential adviser. Several other personnel from the GUR intelligence service were diagnosed with the same condition that year. French prosecutors also opened an investigation in 2023 into the poisoning of a Russian journalist known for an anti-war slogan on state television.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently told the British tabloid The Sun that he has survived no fewer than five or six assassination attempts since the invasion. The current case highlights the use of common substances in targeted attacks against military personnel. The suspect remains in custody in Zhytomyr while legal proceedings continue.