Authorities in at least a dozen Russian regions have restricted mobile internet access indefinitely, citing security concerns.
While internet outages have typically coincided with threats of an imminent drone attack, the latest disruptions have lasted several days in some regions without any immediate dangers, frustrating residents and disrupting daily life.
In the republic of Udmurtia, officials said service was suspended in the capital, Izhevsk, and several surrounding districts as a “preventive measure” against drone strikes.
“The shutdown is meant to block the enemy’s ability to coordinate attacks on defense enterprises and public infrastructure,” regional parliament speaker Roman Yefimov said Monday, urging residents to rely on landlines and “official sources of information.”
Residents told Telegram news channels that mobile internet service has been down since Sunday. Many said they were unable to work remotely because their home Wi-Fi depends on mobile networks.
In the Siberian region of Krasnoyarsk, outages stretched into a fourth day on Tuesday. Governor Mikhail Kotyukov called the measure a security precaution.
Mobile internet blackouts were also reported in the republics of Mariy El, Khakassia and Buryatia, as well as the Tver, Ivanovo, Volgograd, Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk, Tyumen and Zabaikalsky regions.
Regular internet outages across Russia began in early May as authorities ramped up security ahead of Victory Day, Russia’s May 9 holiday commemorating the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
