Russians Feel the Strain of Putin’s War Through Widespread Mobile Internet Shutdowns
As Russia’s war in Ukraine enters its fourth year, ordinary citizens are facing a new layer of hardship: frequent and widespread mobile internet blackouts that disrupt daily life across the country. What began as sporadic measures in 2025 has evolved into a near-routine reality in dozens of regions, leaving millions unable to rely on their smartphones for basic tasks.
Russian authorities have implemented these shutdowns primarily as a defensive tactic against Ukrainian drones. Officials argue that some Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles depend on civilian mobile networks for navigation and control signals. By temporarily disabling mobile internet in targeted areas, they aim to hinder drone operations and protect military and civilian infrastructure. The restrictions often coincide with heightened security alerts, and in some cases, they include “white lists” that allow access only to approved state services, such as government apps, Russian social networks, and banking platforms.
However, the outages extend far beyond frontline regions. Areas as distant as Siberia and the Far East—including places thousands of miles from Ukraine—have experienced disruptions justified under the broad banner of “security concerns.” In the Ulyanovsk region, authorities have gone further, imposing indefinite mobile internet restrictions “until the end of the war.” Russia led the world in internet shutdowns in 2025, with over 37,000 hours of disruptions affecting nearly the entire population and causing billions in estimated economic losses.
For everyday Russians, the impact is immediate and frustrating. People report being unable to order taxis, arrange food deliveries, make digital payments, use navigation apps, or even handle basic banking while on the move. Many now carry cash as a precaution, since card terminals and mobile apps frequently fail during blackouts. Small businesses suffer revenue losses, and residents feel increasingly isolated in an already challenging environment marked by inflation, drone threats on border areas, and strict limits on free expression.
Authorities have attempted to frame the measures positively, suggesting that the outages provide an opportunity for a “digital detox” and encouraging people to embrace offline activities. Yet private complaints reveal growing discontent. Experts and even some pro-war commentators question the effectiveness of the tactic, noting that Ukrainian drones continue to strike targets despite the blackouts. Critics argue the approach is desperate, economically damaging, and risks normalizing broader internet controls.
In conversations with residents and observers, the sentiment is clear: after years of enduring the war’s indirect effects, the loss of reliable mobile connectivity has become a tangible symbol of how deeply the conflict permeates domestic life. While public protests remain limited due to repression, the private frustration is mounting, and some fear these temporary restrictions could pave the way for more permanent curbs on online freedom in the years ahead. As one analyst noted, the Kremlin may find it difficult to ignore this widespread irritation indefinitely.
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