Reports have spread online and on news platforms that hidden patrol vehicles known as "Phantom" have already taken to Ukraine's roads and are recording speed violations. The Patrol Police Department officially denied this information. According to RBC-Ukraine, this was stated by the head of the Patrol Police Department, Aleksey Beloshitsky. The published photo shows patrol SUVs equipped with hidden light signals in the radiator grille area, which is characteristic of vehicles operating in speed-control mode.

Denial by the Patrol Police Department

According to Beloshitsky, claims that the "Phantoms" are already on duty on the roads are not true. He did confirm, however, that such vehicles will indeed appear on the roads in the near future, but the department intends to announce the exact launch separately and officially. Thus, any publications about the vehicles' current operations are considered premature and unconfirmed at this time.

How the "Phantoms" Work

The main feature of the "Phantom" patrol vehicles is their resemblance to ordinary civilian cars. From the outside, they do not stand out in traffic, yet they are equipped with devices for recording speed violations on the roads. It is precisely this stealth that makes them an effective control tool: drivers cannot determine in advance which vehicle is conducting the measurement, which increases discipline on the highway.

History: A Month of Operation Before the Invasion

Before the full-scale invasion, the "Phantoms" managed to operate on Ukraine's roads for only about a month. Despite such a short period, the result was noticeable: during this time, police held more than 26,000 violating drivers accountable. This figure became one of the arguments in favor of returning the vehicles to service after the break.

Contradictory Data

There are two inconsistencies here that are important to distinguish. First, the media and social networks claimed that the "Phantoms" were already working on the roads, while the Patrol Police Department directly denied this, stating that the launch had not yet taken place and would be announced officially. Second, earlier during the question hour with the government in the Verkhovna Rada, Interior Minister Ivan Vyhovskyi spoke about returning the "Phantoms" to the roads as early as August 2026. Given the current date — August 2026 — the promised deadline has in fact arrived, yet the department emphasizes that the vehicles are not yet on the roads. In other words, the public promise regarding the deadline and the actual state of affairs at the time of the denial diverge: formally, the "August 2026" window is open, but no actual launch has occurred according to official data.

Expected Launch

Summarizing the department's position: the "Phantoms" will return to Ukraine's roads in the near future, but the exact date and launch procedure will be announced officially. Until such a statement appears, any reports about the current operation of the hidden vehicles should be treated as unconfirmed. For drivers, this means that speed control by the "Phantoms" could begin at any time after the official announcement, so complying with speed limits remains relevant right now.