Ukrainian Teenager Charged With Poisoning Soldiers on Russia’s Behalf. Two Men Died.

A 17-year-old teenager is facing charges in Ukraine after allegedly helping Russian intelligence poison local soldiers.

The Ukrainian National police said that a Russian handler told the teenager how to package the drugs, which were sent via mail and included fictitious sender details. Ukrainian authorities said the girl was promised at least 5,000 hryvnias, or about $110 U.S. dollars.

According to Ukrainian officials, the soldiers were contacted on Telegram and offered free drugs. The soldiers were unaware that the drugs contained a lethal level of methadone. As part of the transaction, the men were asked to take the drugs on camera.

The plan resulted in the deaths of two men in the Zhytomyr region. The National Police said the men had left their military units voluntarily, but were still targeted.

"A person is chosen as a target precisely because he is a Ukrainian military man. Because Russia's goal is to kill our people and destabilize the situation inside the country," Maksym Tsutskiridze, acting head of Ukraine's National Police said.

While investigating those deaths, police identified other recipients of the packages and were able to prevent four more murders from happening. Those four individuals are active soldiers and are continuing to serve in the military.

The 17-year-old girl now faces charges of aiding and abetting premeditated murder and the transfer of drugs and psychotropic substances for the purpose of sale. She faces up to 15 years in prison.

"I appeal to the military and their loved ones. A person who offers help, sends gifts, or persistently seeks a personal meeting may be carrying out the enemy's tasks," Tsutskiridze said.

"Be careful with new acquaintances. Do not take medicines or other drugs, as well as food or drinks of dubious origin from unfamiliar people," he said. "If you are being pressured or threatened to use something, save the correspondence and report it to the police."