A growing number of Ukrainian teenagers are being recruited by Russia’s FSB to act as spies and saboteurs, according to Ukraine’s security service (SBU), which has arrested more than 700 suspects since last spring—around 175 of them minors. Officials say Russia is weaponizing youth by exploiting their financial desperation and digital vulnerability.

One recent case involved a 16-year-old boy arrested in Dnipro after raising his phone near a military site. Investigators said he was caught with photos and coordinates of Ukrainian military positions, meant for Russian handlers. He now faces charges of high treason and the possibility of life imprisonment.

From Messaging Apps to Suicide Missions

The recruitment often starts with anonymous offers on Telegram, Discord, WhatsApp, or Viber, promising between $100 and $1,000 for seemingly simple tasks. These range from photographing air defenses to planting explosives.

SBU spokesperson Artem Dekhtiarenko noted that some children knowingly participated, while others were deceived through manipulative tactics such as “quest” games. In one such case, two teens in Kharkiv were told to document military sites for rewards—data later used in air strikes.

Some missions have turned deadly. In March, two boys, aged 15 and 17, were recruited to bomb a train station in Ivano-Frankivsk. The explosive detonated early, killing one and injuring bystanders. “They essentially became unwitting suicide bombers,” said Dekhtiarenko.

National Response: Billboards, Lessons, and Legal Dilemmas

The issue has prompted a nationwide awareness campaign: billboard warnings, public service videos, school programs, and mass text messages now aim to inform children about the risks. Slogans such as “Don’t burn your own! Burn the enemy!” reflect Kyiv’s attempt to reclaim psychological ground.

Yet the Ukrainian government is walking a tightrope. While seeking to protect minors, it also faces pressure to act firmly. Human rights advocates warn that Ukraine must uphold international juvenile justice standards. “Detention or imprisonment of children should be used only as a last resort,” said Human Rights Watch’s Yulia Gorbunova.

The SBU insists juvenile suspects are given legal counsel and due process. However, under martial law, some could be tried as adults for charges including sabotage, terrorism, and treason.

Strategic Threat Beyond the Frontline

The use of underage operatives marks a chilling evolution in hybrid warfare. SBU head Lt. Gen. Vasyl Malyuk said Russia is turning vulnerable Ukrainian youth into “weapons of war against their own.” He warned that the campaign—beginning with arson and now advancing to deadly attacks—reflects the Kremlin’s aggressive strategy to destabilize Ukraine from within.

“Underage people cannot foresee the consequences of their actions,” said Dekhtiarenko. “That makes them especially vulnerable to recruitment.”