Russia's CBR reports sharp drop in identified money mule accounts, P2P volumes down 3x since 2023

The Central Bank of Russia reports a more than twofold decrease in monthly identified 'drops' (money mule accounts) in Russian banks, from 100,000 to 40,000 accounts. P2P transaction volumes have been reduced by over three times since 2023, with an additional 30% decline in H1 2026 vs H1 2025. This indicates tightening financial oversight and reduced informal payment channels, potentially affecting financial flows and sanctions evasion dynamics.