Russia’s teenage spies: How Moscow is recruiting Ukrainian youth to target their own country

Many, the SBU says, were enticed with promises of fast money—sometimes as little as $100—for completing tasks such as photographing military locations, setting fires to infrastructure, or even planting explosives. In some cases, young Ukrainians were manipulated into acts of violence through “quest”-like games designed to mask the seriousness of their missions.

One incident in March left one boy dead and another injured when a homemade bomb—meant for a train station—detonated early. SBU officials allege it was triggered remotely by Russian operatives. More recently, a 19-year-old woman was arrested in Kharkiv for planting a bomb inside an e-scooter donated to Ukrainian troops, killing one soldier.

Turning curiosity into combat

The FSB’s strategy, Ukrainian officials say, targets a vulnerable population of children and displaced youth living amid war and financial hardship. Some are reportedly orphans or from broken families. Others are drawn by the lure of easy cash or the thrill of secretive “missions.”

“They’re turning our children into weapons,” said SBU head Lt. Gen. Vasyl Malyuk. “It is psychological warfare targeting the next generation.”

The situation is so widespread that the Ukrainian government has launched a nationwide awareness campaign: anti-espionage messages are now blasted via mass texts, played on passenger trains, and posted on billboards. One video campaign for teenagers urges them to “stay one step ahead” and report suspicious online contact.

SBU agents have even started visiting schools, teaching children how to recognize recruitment attempts. The campaign slogan: “Don’t burn your own. Burn the enemy.”

From sabotage to suicide bombings

Russian tactics have evolved over the past year, according to Dekhtiarenko. What began as efforts to torch cars and energy hubs expanded to attacks on military offices — and now, in some cases, includes grooming teens as suicide bombers.

“They upgraded their strategy,” he said grimly.

In June, the SBU warned of a new tactic: Russian agents impersonating Ukrainian officials online to trick teens into carrying out cyberattacks or sabotage.

One pair of 15- and 16-year-olds in Kharkiv reportedly believed they were participating in a reward-based game when they began scouting and documenting air defence sites. That intelligence, the SBU said, was later used by Russia to strike the city.

Legal and ethical dilemmas

While the SBU says all juvenile detainees have been granted legal counsel and due process, some human rights experts are alarmed. Under martial law, children can be charged with high treason, terrorism, or collaboration — crimes that carry harsh penalties, including life imprisonment.

Human Rights Watch researcher Yulia Gorbunova said Ukrainian authorities must comply with international standards for juvenile justice. “Even during war, children are entitled to protections,” she said, urging rehabilitation and reintegration over incarceration.

But with Russia intensifying its strikes — including a missile attack in Dnipro this week that killed 20 people — Ukraine’s security agencies say they must act decisively.

“To us,” said SBU chief Malyuk, “they are state traitors. And we cannot afford to let them go.”