A group of Ukrainian women are serving as saboteurs to try and bring down Vladimir Putin's Russian war machine.

The "Zla Mavka" saboteurs hide in plain sight in some of the most dangerous areas of the war, including Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk.

One member of the group revealed how the saboteurs work as they continue to resist Russian occupation of Ukrainian territories.

One of the group's founders told The Sun: "While resistance continues in the occupied territories, it means that Russia doesn't win.

"They want to break everyone here mentally. While our resistance continues, it means that they are losing.

"We're laughing at the Russians all the time. We are showing them that we are not afraid.

"We p**s them off, and I like this. Every day we are reminding them that you're in Ukraine. This is not Russia and never will be."

The group started its operations in Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia in February 2023, growing from 200 operatives to at least 800.

The all-female resistance movement has carried out a number of daring operations, including one where they gifted Russian soldiers vodka with laxatives.

In other stunts, they have burned Russian flags and ripped up Moscow's propaganda in occupied regions.

Laughing about the stunts, she said: "On some holidays, like Easter or Christmas they're [Russian troops] starting to drink alcohol much more, and starting to celebrate.

"That's why there are a few Mavkas, who are making very s****y, homemade vodka.

"And we put in there a lot of laxatives."

A founder, going by the name of Mavka, added: “There is a real hunting for us, so we're trying to do everything to stay safe.

“We operate on all occupied territories in Crimea, in Donbas, in Luhansk, even in those cities that are occupied for more than 10 years.

“We are spreading our leaflets with messages for the Russians, we are spreading stickers, graffiti with the Ukrainian symbols, Ukrainian poetry, a handmade weekly newspaper with real news.

"Russian propaganda is extremely strong, and a lot of people here don't have the opportunity to read real news."

She added: “Everything, even one leaflet, is very dangerous.

“Russians are using more and more methods to catch us. That's why we have to be more creative every time."

The group's operations are all carried out via Telegram, where missions are assigned to operatives.

Their opponents have threatened to have them removed from the platform.

Commenting on the war in Ukraine, the group added: "The Russian army is carrying out a genocide in Ukraine. Every day it tortures and rapes and kills.

"The system Moscow wants to bring to occupied Ukraine is based upon fear and oppression – and it believes that women are second class citizens, who belong in the home.

"Mavka stands as a living symbol of defiance to all of this. Dedicated to Ukraine, dedicated to resistance, and, perhaps above all, to bearing witness."