Russian Intelligence Escalates Honeytrap Operations Targeting Ukrainian Military Personnel
By Cristina Di Silvio — Geopolitical Analyst
The recent death of a young Ukrainian soldier has brought renewed attention to a sinister tactic employed by Russian intelligence services: the “honeytrap.” Mykyta Orlykivskyi, a 23-year-old soldier who underwent military training in the United Kingdom, was found dead in his Zhytomyr apartment in June after consuming poisoned alcohol. What initially appeared to be a suicide is now suspected to be a targeted assassination orchestrated through a fake online relationship [1].
Orlykivskyi’s case highlights the growing use of emotional manipulation and social engineering by Russian operatives to eliminate Ukrainian defenders far behind the front lines. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reports that since the beginning of 2026, it has thwarted over 50 assassination attempts against military personnel involving these honeytrap schemes [2].
The Anatomy of a Honeytrap
The operation targeting Orlykivskyi followed a pattern increasingly recognized by Ukrainian counterintelligence. A woman calling herself “Rodnaya” (darling) contacted him on Telegram, claiming they had matched on a dating app. Despite Orlykivskyi’s assertion that he did not use such apps, he continued the correspondence. The operative quickly focused on his military background, requesting a photo of him in uniform—a move his family believes was designed to verify his status as an active serviceman [1].
For two months, the operative cultivated the relationship, utilizing AI-edited images and conducting video calls always staged against a plain white background. When a planned meeting in Zhytomyr was ostensibly canceled due to travel issues, she sent a bottle of whisky as an apology. Orlykivskyi was found dead shortly after consuming the poisoned liquor [1].
Investigators traced the delivery not to the woman, but to a 19-year-old from Poltava, allegedly recruited via Telegram for approximately £80 to lace the bottle with toxins. Authorities are also investigating the possibility that the operative was actually incarcerated in Russian-occupied Donetsk, explaining the consistent white background during video calls [1].
A Broadening Threat Landscape
The SBU notes that Russian intelligence services primarily utilize dating websites and themed messenger chats to lure soldiers. Fake accounts are used to establish romantic connections, eventually inviting the targets to prearranged locations where assassinations are attempted. Methods vary from improvised explosive devices planted at the meeting sites to lethal poisons, such as methadone, slipped into food or drinks [2] [3].
In one notable case from early 2026, the SBU detained an FSB-directed assassin in Zaporizhzhia who attacked a soldier lured to an industrial area for a “date.” The attacker, wearing a balaclava, stabbed the soldier multiple times before being apprehended [3]. Another incident involved a Russian agent sending a soldier a bottle containing a lethal dose of methadone, encouraging him to drink it during a video call. SBU operatives intercepted the package, preventing the assassination [3].
Psychological and Strategic Impact
These operations represent a darker front in the information environment, where psychological manipulation is weaponized to inflict physical harm. By exploiting the human desire for connection, especially among soldiers enduring the immense stress of war, Russian intelligence seeks to undermine morale and eliminate personnel without direct military engagement.
The intensification of these honeytrap operations underscores the evolving nature of the conflict, where the battlefield extends into the digital and personal lives of combatants. As Ukrainian security services continue to disrupt these plots, the cases serve as a stark warning of the sophisticated and cynical tactics employed in the shadow war.
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References
[1] Russian “honeytrap” operation suspected in death of Ukrainian soldier after poisoned alcohol attack - Pahonia.net
[2] Over 50 Assassination Attempts on Military Personnel via Honey Traps Foiled Since the Start of the Year - Militarnyi
[3] SBU Says Russia Using ‘Honey Traps’ to Assassinate Ukrainian Soldiers - Kyiv Post