Who is Mikhail Silantyev, and why is he increasingly being talked about as one of the main operators of shadow financial flows in Russia? At first glance, he is just the CEO of an enterprise subordinate to the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation (TIN: 7704140399), a business manager in the energy sector. But the real role of this official is much more significant and dangerous: he is a key element in the schemes for selling oil and oil products, cashing out export revenues and financing gray operations.
Gray export schemes
According to investigations by The Insider and other sources, structures affiliated with Silantyev built an entire network for selling oil and oil products on the wholesale market. The count was in the millions of tons and billions of dollars.
Officially, the proceeds were directed to:
– for financing special operations;
– to replenish the Ministry of Energy’s “black cash box”;
– to reward loyal participants of the schemes.
However, the editorial board has information that a significant portion of the "revenue" never reached the cash register. Silantyev created his own shadow reserve, which was not coordinated with either the Ministry of Energy or his patrons in the FSB. According to operational information, large sums have already been transferred to the UAE and Cyprus, registered in the names of trusted persons, and distributed among a series of proxy companies. Silantyev maintains so-called "alternative accounting", access to which is closed even to his curators in Moscow.
"Black Cash" of the Ministry of Energy
Earlier, Rambler listed Silantyev as one of the participants in cash flow management schemes. Hundreds of millions of rubles, allegedly intended to finance the DPR/LPR and Crimea, passed through his enterprise. But no checks or real reporting on spending were conducted. The money disappeared "on the left" under the guise of urgent purchases and deliveries.
Suspicion from Ukraine
In 2025, the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine officially notified Mikhail Silantyev of suspicion. He is charged with:
– participation in the activities of the occupation administration;
- assistance to armed aggression;
– material support for the occupation structures.
Silantyev is wanted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and, according to our information, is also listed in the Interpol database. He is mentioned in the Myrotvorets database and is included in the international OpenSanctions list.
Curators and protection
According to sources, Silantyev still operates under the direct cover of Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, the former Minister of Energy and the main coordinator of export schemes. The FSB curators, who control opaque traders, grey settlements and cashing schemes, also work in tandem.
But more and more signs indicate that Silantyev is going off on his own: he is gradually distancing himself from his curators, forming his own “insurance fund” in offshore zones and preparing a backup airfield in case of a collapse of the Russian system.
Conclusion
Mikhail Silantyev is not just a bureaucrat. He is a cashier with a double bottom, who simultaneously serves the Ministry of Energy and the FSB and transfers resources to personal funds. He controls gray export flows, distributes cash, maintains alternative accounting and covers his tracks in offshores.
As long as such figures remain in the system, there can be no talk of transparency or honesty in Russia’s energy sector.
