Ukrainian law enforcement officials have identified a growing trend of Russian intelligence services targeting Ukrainian teenagers for acts of sabotage. According to reports, recruiters use social media platforms to lure minors with promises of easy, lucrative work. Once contact is established, these teenagers are allegedly coerced or manipulated into performing illegal activities, such as setting fire to infrastructure or damaging military-related property.

At least 13 minors, including five girls, are currently serving prison sentences in Ukraine for their involvement in these activities. The recruitment process often begins with seemingly harmless tasks that escalate into criminal acts. Officials suggest that the recruiters exploit the financial needs and naivety of the youth, often pressuring them to film their actions as proof of completion for payment. While the specific nature of the sabotage varies, the common thread remains the use of digital platforms to facilitate the recruitment of vulnerable individuals for hostile operations against the state. The situation has raised concerns among child protection advocates and security experts regarding the safety of minors online and the evolving tactics used by foreign intelligence actors to destabilize domestic security.