Analysis of the cybercrime dynamics in Russia

Objective: to identify the main trends, patterns and factors affecting the number of registered cybercrimes and their detection rate by analyzing the state of crime in the Russian Federation from January 2022 to September 2025.

Methods: the article uses the universal dialectical method of cognition, as well as general (analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction) and specific (formal-legal) scientific research methods.

Results: analysis of statistical data on registered cybercrimes for 2022–2025 revealed the following patterns. In the first quarter of 2025 and throughout the full years 2023 and 2024, there was a steady increase in the number of cybercrimes compared to the same period of previous years. At the same time, crime detection rates are annually high in January of each year. This is due to a combination of organizational, procedural, and seasonal factors: intensive law enforcement activities; peculiarities of statistical accounting and redistribution of resources under a decrease in other types of crime. Positive observations were a slight slowdown in the growth rate of cybercrimes in the second quarter of 2025 (indicators at the level of the second quarter of 2024) and a significant decrease in the third quarter of 2025 (–15 % in July 2025 and almost –24 % in August–September compared to June 2025). Based on six months, one cannot talk about breaking a trend of increased number of cybercrimes. However, this allows concluding that there is a signal in favor of such a break. The authors note that the reduction coincided with the changes in federal legislation. They stipulated the bases for the creation and functioning of the State Information System for countering offenses committed using information and communication technologies.

Scientific novelty: the article presents a detailed analysis of the dynamics of registered cybercrimes and their detection, indicating the seasonality factors. The launch of an interagency cybercrime counteraction platform coincided with a decrease in the number of registered cybercrimes.

Practical significance: the results can be used to improve criminal and criminal-procedural legislation, regulation in the field of operational investigative activities, to increase the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies, and to predict the state of cybercrime.

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