The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has arrested a man in Nizhny Novgorod on charges of treason, accusing him of sending cryptocurrency to "Ukraine-based militants." The FSB claims that these militants used the funds to purchase drones.

According to state-run Russian media outlet RIA Novosti, the detainee, who remains unnamed, admitted to disagreeing with Moscow's "Special Military Operation" against Ukraine.

This arrest follows the Russian government's wider crackdown of foreign donations, especially towards the Ukrainian military force amidst the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

Russian man allegedly donated crypto to Ukrainian militants

The FSB released footage showing officers breaking into the man's apartment and arresting him. The "suspect", who was not identified by name, contacted the Security Service of Ukraine and a terrorist organisation, offering financial support to Kiev's forces, the FSB stated on Wednesday.

The man was arrested in the city of Nizhny Novgorod, and the FSB released a video depicting the entire raid: from breaking into the man's house, grabbing and putting the man under handcuffs, to forcing the man to read and sign a statement.

Officers also show his computer screen, revealing the Telegram app, seemingly suggesting that he mainly contacts the organisation through Telegram. The video then cuts to the man being escorted by masked officers to an unmarked van.

The video depicts the FSB forcing the man to read a confession statement from a piece of paper that reads

"I opposed the Russian President’s decision to launch the Special Military Operation. So, I decided to support the Ukrainian Army. I offered support to the Freedom of Russia Legion. […] I sent them [crypto] to help buy drones."

The man also revealed that he used the crypto exchange Binance to convert fiat currency into cryptocurrency and then transferred the funds to the Freedom of Russia Legion’s official crypto wallets. But neither the amount of the donation nor the coin that was used for the donation was revealed to the general public.

The detention comes after Russia repelled a major multi-wave Ukrainian drone attack on a number of regions, including Moscow, on Tuesday.

The assault, which involved hundreds of unmanned aerial vehicles, some reportedly loaded with shrapnel to maximize casualties, resulted in three civilian deaths and multiple injuries in Moscow Region. According to the Russian Defence Ministry, a total of 377 Ukrainian drones were neutralized, including 91 near the capital and 126 over the Kursk Region.

The Freedom of Russia Legion is a paramilitary unit that was formed in March 2022. The organisation operates out of Ukraine and claims that the organistion is made up of Russian citizens who oppose Vladimir Putin’s government. The group has previously taken responsibility for cross-border raids into Russia.

Moscow has classified the legion as a "terrorist group" and banned it, accusing it of using Telegram to recruit members.

Russian Citizens Allegedly Sent Over $5M in Crypto to Ukraine

This incident is part of a broader trend of FSB arrests involving individuals accused of sending cryptocurrency to Ukraine. Several Russians have been charged with "high treason," with the FSB alleging that they used crypto to fund Ukrainian military efforts.

Among the accused are a scientist from Moscow and a person from Khabarovsk Krai in the Russian Far East. The FSB claims that Ukraine has used these donations to purchase unmanned thermal imaging sights, aircraft, ammunition, and uniforms.

According to Russia’s Sberbank, over $5 million worth of cryptocurrency has been transferred from Russian wallets to Ukraine-based recipients since the conflict began in February 2022.

Under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code, treason in Russia warrants anywhere between 12 and 20 years in prison, As of last April, this has been updated to life imprisonment.