World · Europe · 1 hr ago
Ukraine arrests 17-year-old suspected of poisoning soldiers; two died
Ukrainian police detained a 17-year-old girl in Zhytomyr, west of Kyiv, on suspicion of helping Russian security services poison soldiers.
Police say she sent soldiers packages of capsules containing a lethal dose of methadone, after contacting them on Telegram.
Two soldiers died after taking the capsules, which they believed were free drugs, police said.
Police say they identified other recipients and thereby prevented four more killings.
The case comes amid accusations of wartime sabotage: since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of recruiting minors for such acts.
The girl is suspected of aiding the planned murders and distributing drugs, and could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
Police have warned people not to accept medicines, food or drinks from people they do not know well.
Ukrainian police said they detained a 17-year-old girl suspected of helping Russian security services poison Ukrainian soldiers.
Two soldiers died after receiving packages containing capsules with a lethal dose of methadone, police said.
Police said the girl allegedly sent the packages to soldiers she contacted through Telegram and followed instructions from a Russian handler.
The girl was arrested in Zhytomyr, west of Kyiv, and allegedly received at least 5,000 hryvnias (US$111).
Police said identifying other recipients prevented four more killings; the girl faces up to 15 years in prison if found guilty.
- Who
- A 17-year-old girl, whose name was not released, was detained. Two Ukrainian soldiers died.
- What
- Police suspect the girl helped Russian security services poison soldiers by sending them packages containing lethal methadone capsules.
- When
- Police announced the detention on Friday, October 23, 2026.
- Where
- The girl was arrested in Zhytomyr, west of Kyiv. The two soldiers died in the Zhytomyr region.
- Why
- Police allege she acted on instructions from a Russian handler in exchange for at least 5,000 hryvnias (US$111).
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of recruiting minors for sabotage acts, including poisoning.
The girl allegedly sent packages containing deadly drugs to soldiers she contacted through Telegram.
Ukrainian police said the girl had been detained in Zhytomyr.
Police said two soldiers died from poisoning and that identifying other package recipients prevented four more killings.
- Suspect
- 17-year-old girl
- Arrest location
- Zhytomyr, west of Kyiv
- Alleged payment
- At least 5,000 hryvnias (US$111)
- Deaths
- Two soldiers
- Substance
- Capsules containing a lethal dose of methadone
- Potential sentence
- Up to 15 years in jail if found guilty
3 sources
What people are saying
The girl, who was not named, is suspected of having packaged deadly drugs and sending them to Ukrainian soldiers she contacted by Telegram
The recipients did not know that the capsules contained a lethal dose of methadone
two soldiers died from poisoning in the Zhytomyr region
prevented four more murders