Varvara Volkova
Varvara Volkova, born 2002, Moscow Oblast. Charges: Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code (Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government…); “Varvara Volkova's case of "fake news" about the Russian armed forces”. Sentence (November 21, 2025): 7 years’ imprisonment in a general regime colony, with a 3-year ban on engaging in activities involving the creation and… Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since March 17, 2026; place of detention: Penal colony No. 5, Chuvashia. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, December 10, 2025.
In brief
Moscow Oblast · NULL · Anti-war cases
Sentence
7 years
imprisonment in a general regime colony, with a 3-year ban on engaging in activities involving the creation and administration of websites in electronic and information-telecommunication networks, including the Internet.
Upheld March 17, 2026
Charges
- Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code — Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries (based on political, ideological, racial, national or religious hatred or enmity, or on grounds of hatred or enmity in relation to any social group)
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, “using the Telegram messenger, she posted knowingly false information in the public chat of the residents of the village of Sapronovo about the actions of the Russian Armed Forces during the special military operation,” and “stated that the Russian Armed Forces were allegedly committing violent acts aimed at the destruction of Ukraine’s civilian population and civilian infrastructure.”
Latest event
March 17, 2026 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, December 10, 2025
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 7 years
· Persecution begins
Varvara Volkova's case of "fake news" about the Russian armed forces
Criminal case
Varvara Volkova's case of "fake news" about the Russian armed forces
- Case number
- 1-492/2025
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 5, Chuvashia
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
429430, Чувашия, г. Козловка, ул. Шоссейная д. 10, ФКУ «ИК № 5 УФСИН России по Чувашии», Волкова Варвара Владимировна, 2002 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of the Moscow Region and a former flight attendant for "Ural Airlines." A criminal case was initiated against her for the dissemination of knowingly false information about the Russian Armed Forces, based on messages she posted in a chat for residents of the village of Sapronovo, in which she wrote that “the Russian Armed Forces allegedly commit violent acts aimed at the destruction of Ukraine’s civilian population and civilian infrastructure.”
According to "Ostorozhno, Novosti," the case began after a complaint by serviceman Ruslan Grigoryev, with whom she had previously had a conflict. His accusations were picked up by pro-war Z-channels, which filed a report against Volkova. They demanded that she be fired from "Ural Airlines" and held criminally liable.
No later than summer 2025, she was taken into custody. In August 2025, the case was sent to court. On 21 November, Volkova was sentenced to seven years in a general regime penal colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.