Over 260 Ukrainian Children Help Foil Russian-Recruited Terror Attacks, Police Say

More than 260 children in Ukraine have contacted law enforcement and helped prevent terrorist attacks they were being recruited to carry out, the National Police said. Andriy Nebytov, deputy head of the National Police and head of the Criminal Police Department, said children were among those targeted by Russian intelligence services looking for people to carry out sabotage and other attacks.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “Among those they tried to recruit are children. Already 260 children have contacted law enforcement and helped prevent terrorist attacks they were intended to be used for,” the police said, quoting Nebytov. Police urged people not to follow suspicious instructions from strangers, especially if they are being threatened or blackmailed. Anyone pressured into carrying out such tasks should contact law enforcement immediately. The National Police also described a scheme used by Russian representatives to influence people. The perpetrators call citizens who have previously purchased dietary supplements and pose as employees of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). Nebytov explained that during such conversations, a person may be groundlessly accused of financing Russian aggression. Recruiters then use psychological pressure and gradually push the victim into carrying out illegal tasks. Such actions may include photographing designated sites, setting fire to a servicemember’s car, and later attempting to commit a terrorist attack. Other Topics of Interest Ukraine Eyes Moldova Rail Route as Russian Strikes Put Grain Exports Under Pressure The push for an alternative comes as Russia has stepped up attacks on Ukraine’s southern ports and shipping infrastructure. In this way, Russian intelligence services seek to use ordinary people to carry out sabotage and attacks inside Ukraine, police said. Children have increasingly been targeted in such recruitment attempts, with Russian operatives using social media and messaging platforms to contact minors and offer them money or other incentives for carrying out seemingly simple tasks. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, authorities have documented 44 cases of Russian intelligence services attempting to recruit children in Kharkiv Oblast, according to Ukrainian officials. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.