• Source:JND
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Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has raised the alarm over a troubling new Russian tactic: the recruitment of Ukrainian teenagers to carry out sabotage and even potential suicide bombing missions. According to SBU spokesperson Artem Dekhtiarenko, Russia’s covert sabotage campaign inside Ukraine began in the spring of last year and has rapidly evolved in scale and tactics.

Initially, the operations were focused on arson attacks targeting military vehicles, recruitment centres, and post offices in western Ukraine, far from the front lines. These acts of sabotage were orchestrated remotely by Russian operatives who lured young Ukrainians through Telegram, promising quick money or using blackmail.

Teenagers Recruited With Cash And Games

The SBU reports that many teenagers, some as young as 15, were offered as little as USD 100 to photograph military sites, set fires, or even plant explosives. In some cases, Russian handlers disguised the assignments as "quests" or games, masking the dangerous nature of the missions. The children were instructed to record videos of their acts and send them as proof, with the footage later circulated on Russia-friendly Telegram channels to stoke division and spread the illusion of dissent within Ukraine.

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The tactic preys on vulnerable youth, often those in financial hardship or eager for rewards like a new iPhone. Dekhtiarenko revealed that more than 700 people have been arrested for espionage and sabotage in connection with these operations, and about 175 of them, 25 per cent, were under 18.

Alarming Cases And Growing Awareness

In one particularly concerning case, a 16-year-old boy was caught on a bus in southern Ukraine, allegedly photographing a military site in Dnipro and sending coordinates to Russian intelligence. In another, a group of teens aged 15–16 were found gathering intelligence on air defence positions for Russia’s FSB, with one potentially facing life imprisonment.

Ukraine’s juvenile police have reported a slight decline in child involvement due to a growing awareness campaign. As of late May, around 50 minors have come forward, reporting that they were contacted by unknown users on messenger apps and social networks, encouraging them to commit acts of sabotage.

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Ukrainian authorities, including the SBU and National Police, are intensifying their counterintelligence efforts and launching public awareness campaigns aimed at warning youth and parents about the risks of online recruitment.