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Online, Russia Invents Ukrainians Who Cheer On Its Occupation

Fake accounts routinely pose as Ukrainians to seed favorable narratives across VKontakte pages run by Kremlin-backed authorities.

Ulyanovsk Region Imposes First Permanent Mobile Internet Blackout

The outage, which began in early November, was ordered by federal authorities and applies to areas near sensitive government and military facilities.

After Expanding Online Control, Lawmaker Insists Russia Will Stay Connected to Global Web

A new government decree expands Roskomnadzor’s authority to isolate or reroute internet traffic inside Russia in case of “specific threats.”

Russia Plans 24-Hour Internet Blackout for Dormant or Returning SIM Cards

The planned restriction comes one month after Russia imposed a similar 24-hour blackout on foreign SIM cards.

Russia to Introduce ‘Children’s SIM Cards’

The new type of SIM card will filter traffic, enhance parental controls and allow location tracking without a court order.

Russia Blocks World’s Largest Anime and Manga Database Over LGBTQ+ Content

Previously, a St. Petersburg court banned “Death Note,” “Tokyo Ghoul” and “Inuyashiki,” citing concerns that teens were re-enacting violent...

Telegram and WhatsApp Access Restricted in 34 Russian Regions – Monitor

Thirty-four regions have reported being unable to send messages on the two apps in addition to making calls.

Russia Opens First Criminal Case Under New SIM Card Transfer Law

Police accused the man of using fake powers of attorney to sign mobile service contracts on behalf of various companies.

Digital Rights NGO Roskomsvoboda Shuts Down

Artyom Kozlyuk, who heads Roskomsvoboda, said the organization had been inactive since early September, noting that the reason was a lack of “human resources...

Russia Has Started Blocking Foreign SIM Cards for 24 Hours, Belarus Says

The blackout will apply automatically when a SIM card is first detected on a Russian network and will reapply if the card remains inactive for three days...

Kamchatka Peninsula Braces for 5-Day Internet Shutdown Amid Undersea Cable Work

Authorities said “large-scale” work will be carried out on the Sakhalin-Kamchatka fiber-optic line to prevent longer outages if the cable erodes or...

Russians Report Widespread Disruptions on Google Meet

The video call service is the latest platform to face disruptions as the government pushes its own “super-app” called Max.

opinion Jason Corcoran

Welcome to Russia in 2025. Wave Your Comfortable Modern Life Goodbye.

Cut off from the free internet, suffering from power cuts and even turning to bartering and cash payments — Russia's future looks like its past.

Internet Blackouts Driving Russians and Businesses Back to Cash, Central Bank Says

The internet shutdowns have spread even to regions far from the Ukrainian border following repeated drone attacks.

opinion Sarkis Darbinyan

How Russia’s New Internet Restrictions Work and How to Get Around Them

Here are some methods Russians can use to get around the Kremlin's move to criminalize viewing banned content online.

Russians Should Get Ready for More Internet Blackouts and Switch to Cash, Lawmaker Says

“Don’t turn into a hipster who only lives in the center of Moscow,” the head of the State Duma’s Industry and Trade Committee said.

Russian Regions Impose Indefinite Mobile Internet Restrictions Over Security Concerns

In the Siberian region of Krasnoyarsk, outages stretched into a fourth day on Tuesday, with local authorities calling the measure a security precaution...

Explained: How Russia Is Cracking Down on the Internet and Messaging Apps

Lawmakers have approved fines for searching for “extremist” content and advertising VPNs as authorities mull a potential WhatsApp ban.

Russia Expands Free Public Wi-Fi as Mobile Internet Blackouts Spread

Interactive maps of newly available Wi-Fi access points have been published in many major cities and regions.

Russia Moves to Centralize Mobile Internet Shutdowns Amid Rise in Ukrainian Drone Attacks

Russia experienced 655 mobile internet shutdowns in June alone, more than double the total number of shutdowns worldwide during all of 2024.

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