Illegal Mining Farms in Sverdlovsk Cause $14.5 mln in Damages

Police, in cooperation with “Rosseti Ural,” have shut down two unlicensed mining farms in Nevyansky Municipal District and the village of Chernousovo. The total damage from unauthorized electricity consumption was estimated at $14.5 mln. According to “Pravda UrFO,” 239 ASIC devices were confiscated after being connected to the grid without proper metering.

Reports indicate these farms operated for more than 8 months, drawing about 3.4 million kWh of unpaid energy. Transformers experienced a 65% rise in load, increasing the likelihood of disruptions. Currently, law enforcement has opened a criminal case, and the hardware is undergoing examination.

“Rosseti Ural” experts confirm they are conducting ongoing raids and using tech solutions to detect illegal miners. Future inspections will target industrial sites and warehouses that might harbor similar setups.