Binance gave Russia data on client who donated to Ukraine, Reuters reports

What happened

Reuters reports that Binance, a major cryptocurrency exchange, provided Russian law enforcement with the personal data and transaction history of Yuri Belenkiy, a client who made donations to Ukrainian organizations. This information was used as evidence in a terrorism financing case brought by Russian authorities.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. The report does not confirm Binance’s motivations or whether the company complied voluntarily or under legal compulsion, nor does it detail the scope or timing of the data transfer. It also does not clarify the Russian judicial process or how the donations are defined as terrorism financing under Russian law.

The case signals a wider concern about the vulnerability of cryptocurrency users involved with Ukraine-related transactions to potential Russian legal action, underscoring the blurred lines between financial support for Ukraine and Russian counterterrorism claims.

Known from the source

• Reuters reported that Binance provided Russian law enforcement with client data.
• The client involved, Yuri Belenkiy, donated to Ukrainian organizations.
• The data was used in a Russian terrorism financing case against him.

What remains unclear

This development may impact how donors and crypto exchanges navigate compliance and data privacy in contested jurisdictions, especially when transactions involve politically sensitive causes like Ukraine.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Confirm Binance’s official position on data provision to Russian authorities. Verify the legal grounds cited by Russia for requesting the data. Clarify the details and current status of the terrorism financing case.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: New Voice Ukraine. Open the source.