The Military Law Enforcement Service (VSP) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has officially refuted information that has been circulating massively on social networks and messengers over the past 24 hours. The reports claimed that two armed Russian prisoners of war had escaped from custody near the village of Starovirivka in the Kharkiv region, and that a law enforcement vehicle had been fired upon. The agency emphasized that these reports are completely untrue and constitute a hoax.
What was circulated online
According to RBC-Ukraine, the fake report contained two key claims: first, that two armed prisoners had escaped from a VSP convoy in the Starovirivka area; and second, that a law enforcement vehicle was attacked during this incident. The messages circulated in open Telegram channels and a number of Ukrainian and Russian Telegram channels, gaining thousands of views and reposts. At the same time, none of the propagators provided confirmed photographs, videos, or links to official sources.
Official position of the VSP
Representatives of the Military Law Enforcement Service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that no such incidents have been recorded by the agency. VSP units are operating normally, and the reports about the prisoners' escape and the shelling of the official vehicle have no basis in fact. The agency urged journalists, bloggers, and social media users to carefully verify incoming information and rely solely on the official communication channels of security and defense structures.
Context: operations involving prisoners of war
The refutation came against the backdrop of a number of real-world operations involving the capture and custody of Russian prisoners of war. In particular, operators of the "Volya" battalion of the 57th Separate Mechanized Brigade previously conducted an operation in the Vovchansk area, during which a Russian serviceman was captured using an unmanned aerial vehicle. According to reports, the detainee was forced to participate in the evacuation of the body of a deceased Ukrainian soldier. These events confirm that the issue of prisoners of war remains one of the most sensitive and actively discussed topics in the information space.
Growing attention to prisoners from third countries
In parallel, against the background of events on the front line, attention is increasing regarding the situation with prisoners of war from countries that are not direct participants in the conflict. Recently, a group of African prisoners of war recorded a video message calling on participants of the summit in Moscow to influence the Russian authorities to ensure their return home. This episode underscores that the issue of the custody and status of detained individuals from third countries is gradually reaching the international level and attracting the attention of diplomatic circles.
The VSP reiterated that in the conditions of an information war, verification through official sources is the only reliable way to distinguish real events from targeted disinformation aimed at destabilizing public opinion and undermining trust in security agencies.
