The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) have reportedly brought into custody power plant runners, for illegally operate crypto mining activities in the Yuzhnoukrainsk nuclear power plant. 

Reported by the UNIAN on August 21, by illegally running crypto mining equipments in the site via connecting it to the Internet, the operators have compromised the security system, consequently putting confidential details regarding the plant’s physical protection system online. 

SBU detectives was authorized a search warrant from the authority and have conducted investigation on July 10. They have come across unlicensed computing pieces, and have confiscated a media converter, fiber-optic cable and a partial network cable.

Previously, several engineers from the Russian Federal Nuclear Center were also detained in February last year, with allegations against utilizing one of the biggest supercomputers in Russia to conduct crypto mining operations. 

The computer reportedly could run 1,000 trillion calculations every second, and has remained offline for security purpose. 

“There has been an unsanctioned attempt to use computer facilities for private purposes including so-called mining […] it is a technically hopeless and criminally punishable activity.” Tatiana Zalesskaya, head of the press service for the research institute, claimed.