Dagestan in the crosshairs: 52 illegal mining farms eliminated, 968 devices seized
A large-scale operation to combat shadow mining in Dagestan has yielded tangible results: since the beginning of 2026, specialists from Rosseti North Caucasus have detected and neutralized 52 illegal digital asset mining farms. During the raids, 968 pieces of equipment were confiscated, and the total damage to the region's power grids exceeded 129 million rubles.
In my estimation, this is just the tip of the iceberg. The numbers are striking: underground operators account for about 2.7 million kWh of stolen electricity, which is more than 13% of all unmetered consumption in the region. Law enforcement agencies have already opened five criminal cases related to energy theft, and one court verdict has already been handed down.
Grid damage exceeds 129 million rubles
Since the beginning of the year, specialists from the Dagenergo branch have recorded 952 cases of unmetered electricity consumption totaling over 20.1 million kWh. This is not just a financial loss—such schemes pose a real threat to the stability of the entire energy system. Illegal connections lead to voltage fluctuations, failure of household appliances, and, most dangerously, create a risk of serious electrical injuries and fires.
Fines for unauthorized connection to the grid reach 15,000 rubles for individuals and 200,000 for legal entities. For repeat offenses, the amounts increase significantly, and electricity theft carries criminal liability of up to two years in prison.
Miners move to forests and apiaries
Dagestan remains one of the most problematic regions for underground cryptocurrency mining. In June, energy workers eliminated a farm of 90 devices with a total capacity of about 315 kW in the village of Maydanskoye—the equipment was hidden under a false floor and connected to the grid without a contract.
Similar schemes operate across the country. In the Irkutsk region, police discovered 12 pieces of equipment in a forest area, camouflaged with netting and connected directly to a power line pole. The damage to the energy system there exceeded 2.5 million rubles. Meanwhile, a resident of the Tyumen region mistook a crypto farm on her garden plot for beehives—so characteristic was the appearance of the enclosures.
The logic of the violators is simple: electricity costs determine the profitability of mining, so underground operators seek connection points far from metering. Legal sites lose on cost, and this is a key problem for the industry.
My conclusion: as long as tariffs for industrial mining remain high and control is not strict enough, we will see a rise in the number of such "forest" farms. Regions need not only to toughen penalties but also to create transparent conditions for legal operators; otherwise, the shadow economy will continue to thrive.