Zhytomyr teen faces 15 years in prison over fatal methadone mailings

Two Ukrainian soldiers have died after receiving poisoned capsules, according to police in Zhytomyr, who have detained a 17-year-old girl suspected of orchestrating the scheme. The arrest was announced on Friday by local authorities, marking the latest development in a case that investigators link to Russian security services.

The suspect, who was not named by police, was taken into custody in Zhytomyr, a city located west of Kyiv. Investigators stated that she operated under the direction of a Russian handler. For her role in the operation, she was promised a payment of at least 5,000 hryvnias, which is equivalent to approximately $111.

According to the police statement, the teenager contacted potential victims through the messaging app Telegram. She packaged lethal doses of methadone and sent them to the soldiers, labeling the parcels as containing "free drugs." The recipients were instructed to consume the medication while being recorded on camera, a step designed to verify the act for their handlers.

The soldiers were unaware of the contents of the capsules until after ingestion. Police confirmed that two men in the Zhytomyr region died from the poisoning. Investigators have also identified four other individuals who received similar packages, a process they say prevented four additional deaths across the country.

The 17-year-old is now formally suspected of aiding and abetting the premeditated murder of two people as part of a prior conspiracy. She also faces charges related to the shipment of drugs and psychotropic substances for distribution. If she is found guilty on all counts, she faces a maximum prison sentence of 15 years.

Police warned that the operation was part of a wider effort by Russia to kill civilians and destabilize the situation within Ukraine. Authorities urged the public to exercise caution and avoid accepting medication, food, or drinks from people they do not know well.

The incident adds to a series of accusations exchanged between Ukraine and Russia since the war began in 2022, with both nations claiming to have recruited minors for acts of sabotage. Ukrainian 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.