Ukrainian teen saboteurs recruited on Telegram to attack their own country
The Ukrainian government has raised alarms over reports that Russian actors are using the messaging platform Telegram to recruit Ukrainian children and teenagers for sabotage missions and bombings within their own country. According to officials, the recruitment efforts are aimed at exploiting social media to manipulate vulnerable young people into carrying out acts that could endanger themselves and others.
Authorities say the campaign involves promises of rewards and ideological messaging designed to appeal to youth, while emphasizing the dangers and legal consequences of participating in such operations. Ukrainian security services are actively monitoring Telegram channels and warning parents and educators to be vigilant against attempts to radicalize minors.
Experts note that the use of social media to recruit minors in conflict zones is part of a broader trend in modern hybrid warfare, where digital platforms are exploited to spread propaganda and conduct covert operations. The Ukrainian government is urging international partners and social media companies to take measures to prevent exploitation and protect children from being drawn into violent activities.
This situation underscores the complex challenges that nations face in combating both physical and digital threats during ongoing conflicts.