In the Sverdlovsk Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the results of the fight against crime in the first half of 2025 were summarized.

      Yesterday at 17:38, a two-day meeting of the collegium on the results of operational and service activities of the garrison for the first half of 2025 took place at the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for Sverdlovsk Region. This was reported to the public and the media by the press secretary of the police headquarters, Valery Gorelykh.

      Photo: provided by V.N. Gorelykh

      According to him, senior officials of all territorial departments of internal affairs and structural subdivisions of the Main Directorate, as well as the leadership of the Ural Law Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the transport police, participated in the meeting. The event was chaired by the head of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the region, Lieutenant General Alexander Meshkov.

      In the first six months of this year, 527,000 statements and reports were received from citizens by the duty units of the internal affairs bodies (-4.1%). Law and order were maintained during over 4,000 public, political, cultural, and sports events with the participation of more than 2 million people. The most notable of these was the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War—359 celebrations attended by over 345,000 spectators. Approximately 40,000 Ministry of Internal Affairs personnel were involved in ensuring security.

      Thanks to measures taken jointly by the police and other law enforcement agencies, control over the operational situation on the assigned territory was maintained. A downward trend in crime registration was established. A total of 24,060 criminal acts were registered, which is 0.7% less than in 2024. Registration of serious crimes decreased by 6.1% (4,472), medium severity crimes by 6.5% (4,954), and minor crimes by 2.7% (11,306). In terms of overall crime registration, the Middle Urals ranks tenth after Moscow, Moscow Region, Krasnodar Krai, Saint Petersburg, Bashkortostan Republic, Tatarstan Republic, Chelyabinsk, Rostov, and Samara regions. The crime rate remains one of the lowest in the Russian Federation. Statistics show that Sverdlovsk Region continues to be the safest subject within the Ural Federal District.

      The number of people killed by unlawful acts decreased by 32.7%—138. The decrease in criminal acts includes: murders by 11.1% (96), causing serious harm to health by 25.6% (236), robberies by 9.3% (224), thefts by 1.6% (6,211), including residential thefts by 37% (85) and thefts from bank accounts by 21.7% (767).

      Positive trends were also noted in identifying individuals involved in: robberies (98.5%), assaults (96.8%), and thefts (61.1%), including vehicle thefts (61.2%).

      Sverdlovsk police achieved 100% clearance rates for murders, cases of deliberate infliction of grievous bodily harm, including lethal outcomes, and rapes.

      Overall crime detection increased by 3% and reached 67.5%.

      Crimes related to illegal drug trafficking increased by 1.2 times.

      The number of extremist manifestations detected increased by 19% (25), and investigations into serious and especially serious crimes related to illegal arms trafficking rose by 43.9% (82).

      One of the issues discussed was the complex situation on the roads. Despite a decrease in main accident parameters over the six months: accidents with injuries decreased by 9.7% (1,114), fatalities by 5.9% (127), and injuries by 12.1% (1,353), the severity of incident consequences remains concerning. Only in May and June, 63 people died on regional roads. Such incidents always cause heightened public resonance. In this regard, General Meshkov demanded that GIBDD units take prompt measures in cooperation with local authorities.

      According to him, constant close attention is also necessary regarding migration processes, as there has been a growth in crimes committed by foreign nationals (+27.2%; 411). The Migration Department and territorial police units were tasked with organizing targeted daily work to monitor the legality of foreign nationals' stay in Russia, with broader use of administrative expulsion measures against lawbreakers.

      Colonel Gorelykh also emphasized the serious demand at the meeting concerning juvenile crime (+44.7%; 654). Police identified 439 minors breaking the law (+10.6%). Additionally, great importance was attached to record-keeping, registration, and statistical discipline. 139 internal affairs employees, including 37 in supervisory positions, were held administratively responsible for violations in this area.

      But perhaps Lieutenant General Meshkov was most demanding regarding the results in solving crimes against the most vulnerable category of the population—the elderly. Crimes in the IT sphere are now the most serious threat. In the region, a third of all registered crimes are of this type (33.3%; 8,007). Fraudsters caused citizens damage amounting to 1.943 billion rubles in the first half of the year. The only antidote— in my opinion—is never to transfer or share your money and passwords. Absolutely never. Do not communicate over phone or social networks with unknown persons, no matter how friendly or strict they seem. Do not open foreign links. Then, there will be no need to shed tears. Be wiser, always verify incoming information. And this applies to everyone, not just pensioners,—summarized Valery Gorelykh.

      Concluding the collegium, the head of the Sverdlovsk police outlined the most priority tasks for the garrison for the near future, one of which is to prepare for ensuring security during the Single Voting Day scheduled from September 12 to 14, 2025.