(Image: National Police of Ukraine)
A 17-year-old girl has been arrested in Ukraine for allegedly poisoning soldiers on the orders of the Russian security services.
The teenager was detained in the Zhytomyr region after two servicemen died and packages sent to them were traced.
The men had been contacted via Telegram and offered free drugs, on the proviso that they take them on camera.
The capsules contained a lethal dose of methadone.
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The 17-year-old girl is accused of having packaged the drugs and sent them by mail with fictitious sender details, in exchange for 5000 hryvnias (around £82).
It is alleged that she did so on the instructions of a Russian handler, who was working for the FSB.
While investigating the murders the National Police of Ukraine identified four more recipients of packages in the Kirovohrad, Zaporizhia, Chernivtsi, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions, preventing four more murders.
The girl was charged with aiding and abetting the premeditated murder of two people in a prior conspiracy and the transfer of narcotics and psychotropic substances for the purpose of sale. She faces up to 15 years in prison.
The National Police of Ukraine said: "Two of those who were killed had left their military units without authorisation. The servicemen who were successfully rescued had remained in service. To the FSB, that distinction makes no difference. A person is chosen as a target simply because they are a Ukrainian soldier. Russia's aim is to kill our people and destabilise the situation inside the country.
"I want to address service members and their families. Someone who offers help, sends gifts, or persistently seeks a personal meeting may be acting on behalf of the enemy. Be cautious about new acquaintances. Do not accept medicines, other substances, food, or drinks of questionable origin from people you do not know well. If someone pressures you to take something, coerces you, or threatens you, save the messages and report it to the police by calling 102.
"Please also come forward if the situation involves one of your fellow soldiers, as this information could help prevent a murder before it happens."