Six prisoners escape Lipetsk penal colony 2 in Russia through tunnel

Lipetsk, Russia - Six prisoners have escaped from penal colony 2 in the Lipetsk region, Russia, after digging an escape tunnel.

The prisoners used the tunnel to bypass the prison's security systems and escape into a nearby forest. The authorities are actively searching for the prisoners and have appealed to the public for assistance.

The escape occurred overnight between December 19 and 20, 2022. The prisoners, all of whom were convicted of serious crimes, escaped by digging a tunnel that led from their cell to a nearby forest.

The tunnel was reportedly over 100 feet long and was dug over several months. The prisoners used tools that were obtained from other inmates or from prison staff to dig the tunnel.

The authorities were alerted to the escape when the prisoners were not present during the morning roll call. A search of the prison and surrounding area was immediately launched, but the prisoners have not yet been apprehended.

The Lipetsk region is located in southern Russia, about 250 miles southeast of Moscow. The prison from which the prisoners escaped is a maximum-security facility that houses over 1,000 inmates.

The escape from Lipetsk penal colony 2 is the second such incident in Russia in recent months. In September, six prisoners escaped from a prison in the Ryazan region by cutting through the bars of their cell window and climbing over the prison wall.

The recent escapes have raised concerns about the security of Russia's prisons and the adequacy of the resources available to prevent such incidents.

The authorities are continuing to search for the escaped prisoners and have appealed to the public for assistance. Anyone with information about the prisoners' whereabouts is urged to contact the police or the nearest law enforcement agency.