Russia is recruiting Ukrainian girls via Telegram to kill soldiers, - Vyhivskyi

Since the beginning of 2026, law enforcement has recorded six cases of deliberate murders of Ukrainian service members organized by Russian special services via messenger apps. One more crime was prevented.

This, in a comment to Censor.NET, was reported by the head of the National Police of Ukraine, Ivan Vyhovskyi.

According to him, recently Russian handlers have increasingly used underage girls found through Telegram to carry out their criminal plans.

Ivan Vyhovskyi described the scheme used by Russian special services to recruit Ukrainian youth.

“We see a clearly constructed scheme followed by the Russian handlers. Through Telegram they find girls, promise easy earnings, fully coordinate their actions and provide them with the means. During meetings they serve servicemen alcohol laced with methadone.”

The head of the National Police emphasized that these are premeditated murders that the aggressor state’s special services organize through Ukrainian citizens.

As an example, he cited the recent arrest of a 17-year-old girl in the Zhytomyr region who is suspected of involvement in the killing of a serviceman on the instructions of a Russian handler.

A similar scheme, law enforcement said, was uncovered in Kharkiv, where two minors carried out criminal tasks for monetary reward.

Separately, Ivan Vyhovskyi appealed to parents to pay closer attention to their children’s behavior.

The head of the National Police urged people to watch for suspicious changes in teenagers’ behavior.

“Pay attention to children’s communication in messenger apps, the appearance of unknown sources of income, sudden trips or renting accommodation. Young people today are one of the primary targets of Russian recruiters.”

Law enforcement also urged Ukrainian service members to be extremely careful when meeting people online and to report any suspicious situations to the police.

According to Ivan Vyhovskyi, the National Police of Ukraine continues to expose such schemes, identify organizers and perpetrators, and strengthen preventive work among the population.

Earlier we wrote:

• Poisoned a serviceman on instructions from Telegram? A 17-year-old girl detained in Zhytomyr region
• Children-agents detained who recorded positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces with dashcams in 7 regions, including Mykolaiv
• A horrific terror attack in Mykolaiv was carried out by child agents of the FSB
• “Pay money or provide intimate photos”: how Russia pressures families of Ukrainian prisoners
• The SBU detained an FSB agent who was directing strikes on Mykolaiv