Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
The National Police Chief of Ukraine says, young people in general are one of the main targets for Russian recruiters.
Online dating is supposed to be about finding connection and romance in a digital world.
Yet beneath the surface of swiping right, dangerous traps can wait for unsuspecting users looking for love.
Today, a sinister online scheme is turning innocent-looking profiles into deadly weapons.
A deadly trap
Russian intelligence services are shifting their tactics in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
According to National Police chief Ivan Vyhivsky, foreign handlers are increasingly targeting young women and underage girls online.
They use these recruits to launch lethal operations against Ukrainian servicemen.
Vyhivsky told the Censor.net outlet, that the operation follows a specific pattern on popular messaging networks like Telegram.
Operatives search for vulnerable targets by promising quick cash for simple tasks.Eventually, they direct the women to create dating profiles and match with soldiers.
Once a meeting is set up, the handlers provide money for alcohol and apartment rentals. They also send locations for hidden drug stashes. During the dates, the recruits secretly spike the soldiers’ drinks with deadly doses of methadone.
Police have already recorded six contract killings or attempted murders ordered through apps since the start of 2026. “In fact, we are talking about planned murders organized by the special services of the aggressor state at the hands of Ukrainian citizens,” Vyhivsky said.
Tragic consequences
The consequences of this digital recruitment have already turned fatal. In the Zhytomyr region, law enforcement officers detained a 17-year-old girl on June 5. The Security Service of Ukraine reported that she poisoned a 27-year-old soldier in a rented flat.
Adults are falling for the trap too. In Uzhhorod, a 26-year-old woman allegedly poisoned a soldier in April to steal data from his phone. The soldier died within hours, and she now faces high treason charges.
This digital dragnet is part of a larger trend. The Financial Times reported that teenagers made up 21 percent of those detained for collaborating with Russia last year. Intelligence officials even discovered an attempt to recruit a child as young as 11.
Authorities are urging service members to stay alert during online interactions. The police emphasize that handlers treat these young citizens as disposable tools, showing no concern for their lives.
“It is precisely young people today who are one of the main targets of Russian recruiters,” Vyhivsky warned.
