Ukraine says two soldiers died after arrested girl sent Russian poison

Key Points:

• Ukrainian police detained a 17-year-old girl in Zhytomyr suspected of aiding Russian security services by packaging and sending lethal methadone capsules to Ukrainian soldiers, resulting in two deaths.
• The girl allegedly followed instructions from a Russian handler and received at least 5,000 hryvnias ($111) for her actions, with soldiers unknowingly ingesting deadly doses on camera.
• Police identified other recipients of the packages, preventing four additional deaths, and charged the girl with aiding premeditated murder and distributing psychotropic substances, facing up to 15 years in prison.
• Ukrainian authorities warn against accepting unknown medications or substances, highlighting Russia's intent to destabilize Ukraine through such poisoning tactics amid ongoing investigations into collaboration with the enemy since the 2022 invasion.
• The incident follows previous accusations by Ukraine of Russian poisoning attempts, including a 2023 case involving the wife of a top Ukrainian military intelligence official.