Ukraine has a dangerous trend in Ukraine: Russian special services are actively recruiting minor Ukrainians for sabotage. It is not only about the spread of fakes or online agitation-children are literally used as cannon meat, forcing them for money to perform combat tasks in a peaceful territory. The last court cases show that teenagers burn the military cars, prepare explosions near administrative buildings and even agree to suicide terrorist attacks. And all this - under the dictation of Telegram curators.
In October 2024 in Odessa a 16-year-old guy agreed for a cash reward to set fire to the car of the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces. The order received through the Telegram messenger. He photographed the Hyundai Santafe car on Bohdan Khmelnitsky Street, confirmed the "label" to the customer, purchased fuel, and at night made arson. He recorded all the actions on the video for the report.
During the trial, the young man sincerely pleaded guilty, repented, received positive characteristics and did not have preliminary offenses. The Malinovsky District Court of Odessa found him guilty, however, in view of age and circumstances, he imposed a conditional punishment.
A similar story happened in the Vinnytsia region. The student of the Zozov Agrarian Lyceum got into a similar scheme: he agreed to interfere with the armed forces for his monetary remuneration. He was recruited through acquaintances mediator, who, in turn, received instructions from the mysterious resident of Zhmerynka. She led him with a Russian curator on Telegram. The court gave him 5 years of imprisonment, which was replaced by 2 years of the term.
The SBU reported even more terrible plans for the enemy. In Kherson, the FSB agent was detained, which was supposed to blow up with an explosive bag near the territorial staffing center. The purpose was a terrorist attack with a loud effect - with the self -sacrifice of the agent.
Even more shocking history - in Ternopil. A 14-year-old schoolgirl was detained here, which was recruited by the Russians to blast the police building. The child was actually used as a "walking detonator". The task is to carry the explosives to the entrance. According to the investigation, the Russians planned to undermine it remotely with an explosive device laid.
These cases show a real threat: the enemy does not neglect the use of children as performers of terrorist attacks. Modern digital platforms have become channels for recruitment, instruction and control. The temptation of "light money", poor critical thinking, lack of parental control - all this makes teenagers vulnerable targets.
Usually tasks sound simple: take photos, burn the car, pass the parcel. But behind this is a well-established sabotage network, which operates under the cover of Telegram channels, bots and fake accounts.
The courts still choose soft punishments - conditional terms, exams. All because of age, lack of evil intent and mostly unconscious participation in the crime. But the problem is deeper. The state should not only punish, but also warn: systematic work with schools, media education, information safety, support for families.
The conclusion is obvious: Russian agents do not stop in front of anything, and new weapons in their hands are our children. We have to join forces against this: parents, educators, law enforcement, volunteers. Because each arson or explosion arranged through Telegram is the result of our common inattention.
