12.06.2026 20:10
Ivan Vyhivskyi, the head of the Ukrainian National Police, claimed that Russian security services are carrying out deadly assassination plans targeting Ukrainian soldiers through dating apps. He stated that young women are being used as assassins for monetary gain, alleging that in six cases identified since early 2026, soldiers were poisoned by having high doses of narcotics mixed into their drinks.
Ukraine's National Police Chief Ivan Vyhivskyi has suggested that Russia is using a new method to target Ukrainian soldiers. In a Reuters report covering the allegations by Ukrainian officials, it was stated that Russian security services are particularly recruiting young women via messaging apps for payment and tasking them with communicating with soldiers.
CONTACT ESTABLISHED THROUGH DATING SITES
According to Vyhivskyi's statements, women establish contact with soldiers through dating sites and dating apps. Subsequently, during meetings held in rented apartments, they are instructed to mix high doses of methadone into the soldiers' drinks. Methadone is noted to be a synthetic opioid that can be lethal in high amounts.
SIX CASES IDENTIFIED
According to Ukrainian police data, six separate contract murder cases linked to this method have been identified since the beginning of 2026. Officials stated that one of these was prevented before it could be carried out.
17-YEAR-OLD SUSPECT IN THE SPOTLIGHT
In one of the central incidents of the allegations, it was reported that a 17-year-old girl was detained on suspicion of poisoning and killing a Ukrainian soldier. Ukrainian police suggest that the suspect was directed by a person believed to be connected to Russian security services via Telegram.
NO RESPONSE FROM MOSCOW
While the allegations have sparked widespread reaction in the international press, Russian security institutions have not made an official statement regarding the accusations. Throughout the war, both Moscow and Kiev administrations have accused each other of using the other side's citizens for sabotage and assassination operations.