Ukrainian teen saboteurs recruited on Telegram to attack their own country

Russia is allegedly using the Telegram messaging app to recruit Ukrainian children and teenagers for sabotage attacks against their own country, with hundreds of minors involved in plots that have led to arrests, trials, and fatalities. This campaign exploits financial desperation and online vulnerabilities, highlighting a disturbing trend in hybrid warfare tactics. In July 2025, a 17-year-old known as Vlad traveled 500 miles from eastern Ukraine to plant a bomb in a military conscription van in Rivne, promised $2,000 but was apprehended by the SBU security service before the attack. He now faces terrorism charges carrying up to 12 years in prison, reflecting the severe legal consequences for those caught in these schemes. Vlad’s case is part of a broader pattern, with Ukrainian authorities reporting over 800 Ukrainians recruited by Russia in the past two years, including 240 minors, some as young as 11. Recruitment occurs primarily on Telegram, but also on TikTok and video game platforms, where handlers target youths seeking remote work by offering payments for destructive acts. The motivations are largely financial rather than ideological; recruits like Vlad admit they do not support Russia but were lured by promises of easy money, with handlers using Russian street accents and cryptocurrency for payments. Tactics include detailed price lists for attacks, such as $1,500 for arson at a post office or $3,000 for a bank, and recruiters often underpay or deceive participants, as Vlad received only $100 instead of the promised $1,500 for an earlier arson attempt. The consequences are dire, with hundreds of alleged saboteurs awaiting trial and several killed by explosives they were handling, including a March 2025 incident where a 17-year-old died and a 15-year-old was injured in Ivano-Frankivsk. Ukrainian officials claim Russian handlers sometimes detonate devices remotely to eliminate evidence, while international parallels exist, such as six men jailed in the UK for a Russian-ordered arson attack. In response, Ukrainian police are educating teens in schools about the risks, and Telegram has removed some channels but many remain active, underscoring challenges in curbing online recruitment. The situation emphasizes the need for heightened vigilance and protective measures for youth in conflict zones, as detainees like Vlad warn others against the life-threatening dangers of such schemes.