Experts speak of “honey traps”
Putin is said to be using young women against Ukrainian soldiers
June 12, 2026 – 5:30 p.mReading time: 1 min.
Russia is said to be recruiting young women as spies via dating apps and Telegram. They are supposed to lure Ukrainian soldiers into so-called honey traps and poison them.
Ukrainian security authorities accuse Russia of recruiting young women via social networks for sabotage operations against Ukrainian soldiers. Ukrainian investigators said the recruitment took place, among other things, via the Telegram messenger service and dating platforms.
According to Ukrainian police chief Ivan Vyhivsky, enlisted women are supposed to make contact with soldiers, establish personal relationships and administer toxic substances to them during meetings. Experts call this method a “honey trap.” The allegations cannot currently be independently verified.
The authorities speak of several cases that are said to be connected to the alleged actions. A 17-year-old was arrested at the beginning of June. She is said to have poisoned a Ukrainian soldier after contact with a suspected Russian client. The investigators accuse her of, among other things, premeditated murder.
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26-year-old is said to have poisoned soldiers
In another case, a 26-year-old woman from the Zaporizhia region is suspected of poisoning a soldier. According to Ukrainian media reports, she is said to have previously created a dating profile on the instructions of a suspected Russian contact. The woman has not yet publicly denied the allegations; there is no legally binding judgment.
According to the Ukrainian domestic secret service SBU, young people in particular are recruited with the promise of quick earning opportunities. The authorities warn against contacting people via social networks and encrypted messenger services.
