Shooting in Dagestan over illegal mining farm
Date: 2025-10-07 Author: Gabriel Deangelo Categories: IN WORLD
On October 2, an armed incident occurred in the village of Untsukul, triggered by the discovery of an illegal mining farm. According to sources in the regional energy sector, the facility's capacity exceeded 200 kW, and the unauthorized electricity consumption caused damages of approximately 14 million rubles.
A representative of the energy sector told RIA Novosti that the farm had consumed over 1.3 million kWh of electricity without payment. The illegal connection to the grid sparked a conflict between village residents, which culminated in gunfire.
According to Kommersant, six people were involved in the shootout. Three were wounded and taken to the hospital. The attackers shot a 26-year-old local resident several times and then attempted to complete the attack near a hospital, where they fired at least five more shots, wounding two other residents.
Law enforcement officials have opened a criminal case on charges of attempted murder of a group of individuals and illegal arms trafficking. One of the suspects was found and also hospitalized, while two remain wanted.
It was discovered that the farm consisted of 58 devices, each with a capacity of approximately 3.5 kW. All equipment was connected to the power grid without permission. The organizer of the installation was a former employee of the district power grid, well acquainted with the connection system. All mining equipment was seized by police.
Despite the ban on cryptocurrency mining in the North Caucasus republics until the spring of 2031, underground miners continue to operate, often bypassing meters. Just last week, power engineers in Makhachkala discovered another farm hidden in the basement of a residential building. It contained 32 liquid-cooled devices, with damage estimated at approximately 10 million rubles.
According to Rosseti PJSC, 94 cases of electricity theft totaling over 622 million rubles were recorded in the North Caucasus Federal District during the first nine months of 2025. The company's Deputy CEO, Daniil Krainsky, noted the need for tougher penalties for illegally connecting to power grids.
On the same day, it was reported that the organizers of a large underground farm in St. Petersburg had been detained, with over 2,700 mining devices seized.
This is not the first time that miners' activities have led to violence. In December 2024, discussion of a mining bill in the Abkhaz parliament ended in gunfire, injuring two members of parliament and injuring one later.
The situation in Dagestan highlights that combating illegal mining remains a key challenge for the region's energy sector and law enforcement agencies.
