The Chelyabinsk operation is now under a formal investigation, with law enforcement confirming that a group of attackers received instructions to seize recently purchased vehicles. These cars, owned by residents of Orenburg, carried surprisingly low mileage — just 10–15 kilometers — when taken. In a calculated scheme, counterfeit numbers were assigned to the vehicles, they were driven to Chelyabinsk, and from there moved across the border to neighboring states. While the exact destination country has not been officially disclosed, the prevailing supposition points toward Kazakhstan as the likely recipient. The audacity of the plan and the speed with which the cars were moved highlight a coordinated effort that extended beyond a single region.
The total claims for damages confirmed so far reach 8 million rubles. Yet, investigators and officials believe the scope could be broader, with ties suspected to other similar incidents in Bashkortostan and Tatarstan dating from 2019 through 2022, according to MVD.Media. Theders risk and scale appear to reflect a network rather than an isolated operation, suggesting participants may have coordinated strategies across provincial lines.
In response, the Orenburgskoye division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs has opened five criminal cases under Part Four of Article 158 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Those cases are currently consolidated into a single proceeding. Two individuals have been detained, while two others are under house arrest as the investigation proceeds. The process involves collaboration with the National Guard, and the ongoing inquiry aims to map the full extent of the scheme, confirm the chain of supply, and identify all participants, including those who facilitated the illicit resale of the vehicles. The case remains active, with investigators pursuing additional leads and any potential links to other criminal activities.