Ukrainian teen saboteurs recruited on Telegram to attack their own country
In July this year, a 17-year-old travelled 500 miles from his home in eastern Ukraine to collect a bomb and a phone hidden in a park in the western city of Rivne.
He was promised $2,000 (£1,520) to plant the bomb in a van used by Ukraine's military conscription service. When I was connecting the wires, I thought it could explode then. I thought I might die, he told the BBC.
This teenager, known as Vlad (a pseudonym), is among hundreds of young individuals recruited online by Russia to commit acts of sabotage against their own country. The Ukrainian government alleges that over 800 Ukrainians have been targeted, including 240 minors, some as young as 11.
Vlad's recruitment began when he joined two Telegram channels seeking remote work and was quickly contacted by a man named Roman, who promised payment for dangerous tasks. He recalls being instructed to set up a live stream of his attack so it could be remotely activated.
Fortunately, Ukraine's SBU security service intervened, preventing the attack and leading to Vlad's apprehension. Now 18, he is facing terrorism charges that could result in a 12-year prison sentence.
Andriy Nebytov, Deputy Head of Ukraine's National Police, highlighted the targeted effort to manipulate vulnerable individuals, particularly children. The recruitment primarily occurs on Telegram, but also expands to platforms like TikTok and video games, often appealing to the desperation of youth amid a brutal conflict.
The interviews with various recruits reveal that the main motivation behind their actions is financial. For example, Vlad initially received $30 for collecting a grenade and later earned about $100 for another attack, far short of the promised amounts. When interacting with potential recruits, offers for high compensation can be misleading, often resulting in half-hearted payment after dangerous tasks are completed.
The psychological impact on these young recruits is troubling. Many do not fully comprehend the gravity of their actions or the potential ramifications, such as imprisonment or even death, as evidenced by several instances where recruits have died due to explosives they were handling.
As the global community watches this recruitment of minors unfold, it raises serious questions about online safety and the role of social media platforms in combating such exploitation. Ukrainian authorities continue to warn against the dangers of such recruitment, urging young people to recognize the stark realities of becoming involved in sabotage.
Vlad warns others, saying, It's not worth it. They will either cheat you, and then you will end up in prison just like me, or you can take a bomb in your hands and it will simply blow you up.\
