By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The article details a new Russian tactic in Ukraine, recruiting Ukrainians through Telegram to carry out bombings in exchange for money. These recruits, often unemployed or teenagers, are lured with easy tasks and then threatened or manipulated into escalating their actions. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has detained over 700 individuals for sabotage and terrorism related to this campaign, which is part of a larger shadow war. The SBU is working to counter these efforts by disrupting the recruitment process, using technical means to block detonating signals, and educating the public. There are concerns that these tactics may be exported to the west.
Read the original article here
Russia pays young Ukrainians to be unwitting suicide bombers in shadow war, and it’s hard to process the information without a shudder. It’s a scenario that immediately evokes the sense of a war crime, a horrifying tactic that seems to be lifted from the darkest corners of history. This is not about fair play or the rules of engagement; it’s about the cynical manipulation of vulnerable individuals, the twisting of human lives into instruments of destruction.
I am not an expert, but it is clear that the act of paying someone to commit a suicide bombing, even if they don’t fully comprehend the implications, goes far beyond the pale. Russia has a history of using suicide bombers, particularly against Muslims. If history is repeating itself, it is a disturbing pattern.
The strategy of using civilians, particularly children, as unwilling participants in combat, such as by handcuffing them to vehicles with active weaponry, is something I read about elsewhere. This method forces them to either fire or be killed themselves, highlighting the extreme lengths taken by certain actors in conflicts. While in that case money was not mentioned, the idea of using innocents is there. However, this act is not specific to the current conflict.
When considering the claims of financial incentives, the information seems incomplete. Some news outlets seem to mention money as part of the story, but it’s unclear whether money is a real incentive. Perhaps the money is to deflect attention from the true methods of such operations.
I think it’s important to recognize the potential for hypocrisy. The idea that nations might engage in activities that would be considered unethical is nothing new. Many intelligence agencies around the world engage in similar tactics. This behavior is a hallmark of how some world powers operate.
If the allegations are true, and young Ukrainians are being paid to commit suicide bombings, how exactly would that work in practice? How could money and such a terrible act be reconciled? And if this is a reality, what is the ICC’s role? This is not a “special military operation,” it is an act of aggression.
Regardless of how the “agents” are viewed by Russia, whether pawns or something else, the fact remains: civilians are being manipulated into performing acts of terror. The use of coercion, threats, or deception to force individuals into such actions is abhorrent.
One of the reported tactics is remote activation of explosives, where the individuals involved are unaware of the danger until it is too late. They agree to deliver packages, which would contain explosives. These could be activated by remote control, meaning these individuals would never realize they were part of a suicide mission.
The manipulation often starts small and uses manipulation. Offering someone money or making threats to ensure their compliance. This creates a cycle of coercion and blackmail, further entrapping the individual. This type of manipulation is wrong.
It is important not to justify such actions by saying “both sides do it.” Coercing people to commit acts of terror and suicide bombing is a moral low point. The use of such tactics is unacceptable regardless of who is employing them.