Russian authorities have uncovered an illegal cryptocurrency mining operation in the Buryatia region, resulting in a disruption to local power grids. The operation involved a truck containing 95 crypto mining devices, powered by stolen electricity. Authorities seized the equipment but two suspects fled the scene before identification could be made. Buryatenergo, the local power utility, discovered the setup during a routine inspection of the power lines. They estimated that the illegal connection was using a 10-kilovolt line intended for a village. The targeted cryptocurrencies include Proof-of-Work coins such as Bitcoin. This operation highlights the ongoing challenge of unauthorized cryptocurrency mining, which is causing voltage drops and other potential grid instability issues. Authorities have warned of these disruptions to communities and are taking steps to address unauthorized mining operations. Buryatenergo emphasized that these actions aim to support regulatory enforcement in place since December 2024.