Ukraine’s National Police has uncovered at least seven cases of poisoning of military personnel, according to the agency. The BBC, citing the police, reports that teenagers are suspected of committing the acts on orders from Russian intelligence services. Among the suspects are teenage girls and a 19-year-old man.
Several days ago, Police Chief Ivan Vyhivskyi told the Ukrainian outlet Zensor.net that investigators had registered six cases of intentional killings of soldiers ordered by Russian services via messengers since the beginning of the year. One additional case was prevented. On June 11, police in Zhytomyr reported another case: a 19-year-old from the Poltava region allegedly poisoned a soldier for payment.
According to Zhytomyr police, the suspect received the order via a Telegram channel from a Russian handler. He obtained a package with a crystalline substance through a parcel locker, then bought an alcoholic drink and mixed in the poison without damaging the original packaging. He sent the poisoned drink to an address provided by the handler. The recipient, a 23-year-old soldier from Zhytomyr, picked up the package from an “acquaintance from correspondence” and was found unconscious the next morning. He died a few days later in hospital. Investigators have charged the suspect with premeditated murder; he faces life imprisonment.
Source: www.bbc.com
