Over 800 Ukrainian teenagers, including minors, have been recruited by Russia via Telegram to commit acts of sabotage, being paid for these.

The SBU security service of Ukraine reported that, in the last two years, over 800 Ukrainians, including 240 minors, have been recruited by Russia to commit acts of sabotage. A notable case is that of a 17-year-old who traveled 500 miles to pick up a bomb, being paid $2,000 to plant it. Recruitment mainly takes place on Telegram, but also on TikTok and video game platforms, aiming to manipulate vulnerable minors. Cybersecurity expert Anastasiia Apetik emphasized that there is a strategy for recruiting children, sometimes even as young as 9 or 10 years old. Young people are attracted by financial promises, and some, like Vlad, admit that they do not support Russia but have been convinced to accept dangerous tasks.

The SBU warns that enemies are using minors to manufacture explosives from household chemicals. Recruitment channels are not explicitly pro-Russian, but they amplify discontent towards military service. Telegram stated that it removes calls for violence, but Ukrainian officials suspect the involvement of Russian agents in these activities.