In Buryatia, a 'Mining Truck' Stole Electricity Worth 3 Million Rubles

RBK-cryptoPublished on 2026-01-12Last updated on 2026-01-12

Abstract

In Russia's Republic of Buryatia, a group of individuals organized an illegal mobile cryptocurrency mining operation using a modified truck, stealing electricity worth 3 million rubles. Three local residents equipped the truck with around 100 mining devices and drove along power lines, illegally connecting to the electrical grids. Two additional accomplices were involved in the operation. Law enforcement, supported by the Russian National Guard, detained all five suspects. A criminal case has been initiated under the article on causing property damage through fraud or abuse of trust. During raids at the suspects' residences, authorities seized mining equipment valued at 6.5 million rubles, along with records and other evidence. The organizers have been subjected to a restraining order prohibiting certain activities, while other participants signed pledges not to leave the area and to exhibit good behavior. This case follows other recent discoveries of illegal mining farms in Russia, including a three-month search for one in Dagestan that was eventually located using a drone with a thermal imager.

Moving along power lines in a truck, black miners transported and connected around a hundred cryptocurrency mining devices to the networks

An illegal mobile mining farm in Buryatia stole electricity worth 3 million rubles, reported Irina Volk, the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Three local residents equipped a truck for mining, placing about 100 cryptocurrency mining devices inside.

The perpetrators involved two other men in the illegal activity, who drove the truck along power lines and illegally connected the equipment to them. The "farmers" managed to cause damage of about 3 million rubles over several days of work, the report says.

All five were detained by police with the support of the Rosgvardia (National Guard). A criminal case has been initiated under Art. 165 of the Russian Criminal Code ("Causing property damage by deception or abuse of trust").

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Searches were conducted at the places of residence of the detainees. The police reported that mining equipment worth 6.5 million rubles was seized, as well as records and other items of evidentiary value.

Seized mining equipment. Source: Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs

A restraining order in the form of a ban on certain actions was chosen as a preventive measure for the organizers. The other participants in the illegal mining were made to sign a pledge not to leave the place and to behave appropriately.

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Last November, it became known that in Dagestan, they hunted for an illegal mining farm on a "Gazelle" van for three months. Power engineers managed to detect it using a quadcopter with a thermal imager.

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Related Questions

QWhat was the mobile mining farm in Buryatia accused of stealing, and what was the estimated value?

AThe mobile mining farm in Buryatia was accused of stealing electricity, with an estimated value of 3 million rubles.

QHow many devices for cryptocurrency mining were allegedly transported and connected in this illegal scheme?

AThe suspects transported and connected about 100 devices for cryptocurrency mining.

QHow many people were detained in connection with this illegal mining operation, and which agencies were involved?

AFive people were detained with the support of Rosgvardiya (the Russian National Guard).

QUnder which article of the Russian Criminal Code was the criminal case initiated?

AThe criminal case was initiated under Article 165 of the Russian Criminal Code (Causing property damage by deception or abuse of trust).

QWhat was the estimated value of the mining equipment confiscated during the searches?

AMining equipment worth 6.5 million rubles was confiscated during the searches.

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