Over 80,000 residents in Dagestan are currently lacking electricity
Makhachkala Power Outage Continues Amidst Crypto Farm Discovery in Dagestan
Residents of Makhachkala, Dagestan, have been grappling with prolonged power outages since a fire at the Novaya electrical substation on July 26, 2025. The incident, caused by a technical malfunction linked to overloaded transmission lines, left nearly 90,000 residents without electricity, primarily affecting the central districts of the city [1][3].
Since the initial incident, power disruptions have continued sporadically in Makhachkala through early August 2025. Areas like the Reduktorny settlement have faced frequent blackouts despite official assurances of restoration [2]. Frequent complaints were registered with local authorities, highlighting recurring problems with electricity and water supply in the city. The underlying reasons cited included not only the substation fire’s impact but also ongoing stress on the power infrastructure and environmental conditions like hot weather and heavy rain [2].
On August 6, residents of the Reduktor settlement in Makhachkala blocked a road in protest of the prolonged power outage. City authorities reminded residents of the administrative and criminal penalties for participating in unsanctioned actions [4].
Meanwhile, in a separate development, a crypto farm with 35 devices was discovered in Dagestan. It was revealed that a miner had stolen electricity worth almost 1 million rubles [5]. City authorities have emphasised the importance of legal means for expressing grievances, such as participating in approved events and submitting appeals through official channels [6].
Specialists are currently working to restore power in the affected regions, including Makhachkala. However, as of mid-August 2025, no time frame for the restoration of electricity in Makhachkala has been provided [2].
| Date | Event/Status | Details | |---------------|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------| | July 26, 2025 | Substation fire at Novaya due to overload | Fire at 4:48 a.m.; caused outage of ~90,000 people in central Makhachkala; 23 cable lines damaged[1][3] | | July 26, 2025 | Partial power restoration | By 9 a.m., 36,000 homes restored; by 11 a.m., nearly half reconnected[1][3] | | August 6, 2025 | Road blockade by Reduktor residents | Protesting prolonged power outage; administrative and criminal penalties for unsanctioned actions mentioned[4] | | August 6-10, 2025 | Recurring outages reported by residents | Areas like Reduktorny faced frequent blackouts; complaints logged (3,474 from Makhachkala alone)[2] | | Ongoing | Crypto farm discovery and electricity theft | Crypto farm with 35 devices discovered; electricity theft of almost 1 million rubles uncovered[5] | | Ongoing | Efforts and investigations | Power engineers cited weather and infrastructure strain; authorities held meetings to address concerns[2] |
This blackout was part of a broader pattern of electrical disruptions in Dagestan in 2025, including a separate June 15 incident cutting power to 27 localities, showing systemic infrastructure vulnerabilities [1].
The ongoing power outage in Makhachkala, a city in Dagestan, has exposed vulnerabilities within the regional power infrastructure, affecting not only the central districts but also suburbs like Reduktorny. Surprisingly, amidst these troubles, a crypto farm operating illegally, consuming almost 1 million rubles worth of electricity, has been uncovered. This incident underscores the need for robust regulations in the energy and finance sectors to prevent such illicit activities and promote a healthy general-news environment.
