Police believe that the 51-year-old woman had been working on the tunnel in southern Ukraine for at least three weeks before being caught.

Ukrainian newspapers have published photos showing the wooden ladder descending into the shaft, roughly 30 metres from the prison walls.

The woman, who has not been named, is now in custody awaiting a bail hearing, The Times reports.

Her alleged actions have split Ukrainian social media, with some users praising her for her loyalty to her son.