Irkutsk Prosecutor Secures Demolition of Mining Farm Hidden in Forest Area

Irkutsk’s Prosecutor’s Office has reported the successful shutdown of a cryptocurrency mining farm that was secretly operating in a forested region on the city’s outskirts. The equipment was utilized without any land rights or local government permits, prompting a legal challenge.

During inspections, authorities found 25 high-performance rigs with a combined capacity of up to 350 kW. Experts estimate that unauthorized hookups to the local grid caused around 2.5 million rubles in infrastructure damage. Additionally, forestry officials noted harm to the environment due to unauthorized access roads and open-air storage of equipment boxes.

The court ruled in favor of the prosecutor’s lawsuit, ordering the farm’s dismantling and compelling the defendant to restore damaged areas. Officials stated this is not the first occurrence: since early 2023, the Prosecutor’s Office has filed 12 motions to rectify similar violations involving mining complexes near forest lands.