World

17‑Year‑Old Detained After Two Soldiers Died From Poisoned Drugs

By AFP

Ukrainian police on Friday, October 23, 2026, announced the arrest of a 17‑year‑old girl suspected of aiding Russia’s security services in poisoning Ukrainian soldiers. The girl, whose name was not released, allegedly packaged lethal drugs and sent them to soldiers she contacted via Telegram. She was detained in Zhytomyr, west of Kyiv, after reportedly following instructions from a Russian handler in exchange for at least 5,000 hryvnias ($111). The soldiers received the packages, were told to take the contents on camera, and were unaware that the capsules contained a lethal dose of methadone. Two soldiers died from the poisoning in the Zhytomyr region. Police said they had identified other recipients of the packages, preventing four additional murders across the country. The young woman faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of aiding and abetting premeditated murder and of shipping drugs and psychotropic substances for distribution. Police warned that Russia seeks to kill Ukrainian people and destabilise the country, urging citizens not to accept medication, food or drinks of dubious origin from unknown sources. Since Russia’s full‑scale invasion began in February 2022, Ukrainian authorities have opened thousands of investigations into collaboration with the enemy and frequently arrest individuals accused of working for Moscow. In 2023, Ukraine accused Russia of poisoning the wife of Kyrylo Budanov, then head of Ukraine’s military intelligence and now a presidential advisor.