Russian Man Arrested for Treason for Sending Crypto Payments to Ukraine’s Military

A Russian man has been arrested for allegedly using cryptocurrency to send funds to Ukraine’s military, with the intent of aiding in the purchase of arms, ammunition, and uniforms, according to Russian state media Izvestia.

The Federal Security Service (FSB) released footage of the arrest, showing agents forcefully detaining the man. The FSB stated that the individual’s actions constituted high treason, as the money sent through crypto was allegedly intended to support Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.

This arrest follows a similar incident on September 17, where another man in Mariupol was charged with high treason for allegedly passing sensitive information about Russian troop movements to Ukrainian intelligence. Both cases are part of a broader crackdown by Russian authorities on individuals they claim are aiding Ukraine through financial or intelligence means.

The potential sentences for these individuals remain uncertain, but past cases of treason in Russia suggest they could face severe penalties. For instance, in a high-profile case earlier this year, physicist Alexander Shiplyuk was sentenced to 15 years in prison for allegedly sharing classified missile program details with German intelligence back in 2017. His colleague, Anatoly Maslov, faced a similar fate, receiving a 14-year sentence in May for leaking missile technology secrets. Maslov, if he survives his sentence, will be 90 years old when he is released.

The recent arrests signal Russia’s increasing focus on clamping down on any form of support to Ukraine, with the use of cryptocurrency now drawing particular attention from authorities due to its perceived role in bypassing traditional financial systems.