A 19-year-old resident of Ukraine’s Poltava region has been charged with the murder of a Ukrainian serviceman in a case prosecutors say was orchestrated by Russian intelligence using a fake online romance and a poisoned gift.
According to the Zhytomyr Regional Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday, the suspect was recruited through Telegram by an individual believed to be acting on behalf of Russian special services. Investigators allege he was promised Hr.5,000 ($120) to help kill a 23-year-old Ukrainian marine.
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The operation began with Russian handlers creating a fake social media profile posing as a young woman. After establishing contact and building trust through online conversations, they arranged to send the serviceman a “gift” via a postal service.
Prosecutors say the suspect purchased a bottle of alcohol and used a syringe to inject a toxic mixture containing methadone into the sealed container without damaging its packaging.
The package was mailed to the marine in Zhytomyr.
Unaware of the danger, the serviceman consumed the alcohol at home. He was later hospitalized and died several days later in intensive care as a result of poisoning, investigators said.
Law enforcement officers detained the suspect at his residence in the Poltava region. He was formally notified of suspicion and is accused of premeditated murder committed for financial gain and in the interests of a state aggressor.
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The court is considering whether to impose pretrial detention as a preventive measure.
Investigative measures are also underway to identify other individuals involved in planning and carrying out the crime.
If convicted, the suspect faces life imprisonment with confiscation of property.
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