Russians Feel Strain As Putin’s War Kills Mobile Internet

Four years into Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine, ordinary Russians are now being asked to live without mobile internet — a move officials claim is needed to stop Ukrainian drone attacks, but which many see as ineffective and punitive.

Mobile internet shutdowns have become routine across large parts of Russia, leaving people unable to make calls, use navigation apps, order taxis or pay for groceries. Authorities insist the blackouts are a security measure, arguing Ukrainian drones rely on mobile networks for navigation.

But Russians interviewed by NBC News — along with military experts and even pro-war bloggers — openly question that claim. Drone strikes continue deep inside Russia, while outages have been reported thousands of miles from Ukraine, including in Kamchatka.

The disruptions are fraying daily life. Small businesses have been hit, card payments often fail, and many residents have reverted to carrying cash or staying close to home for Wi-Fi. Some regions now operate under a government “white list,” allowing access only to approved sites such as state services, Russian search engines and selected media outlets.

The outages come amid a broader digital crackdown since the invasion began: bans on Instagram and Facebook, throttling of YouTube, restrictions on messaging apps and growing limits on VPN use.

Officials have urged citizens to treat the shutdowns as a “digital detox.” Regional leaders have dismissed complaints as trivial compared to the “heroism” of Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, while lawmakers suggest the blackouts could last until the war ends.

Experts warn the policy is both costly and ineffective. Ukrainian drones often rely on satellite navigation, meaning mass shutdowns disrupt civilians without stopping attacks. Pro-war bloggers have also mocked the policy, calling it pointless and humiliating for ordinary Russians.

Digital rights advocates say the outages may be a test run for a permanently restricted, heavily censored internet — a model closer to North Korea than Europe.

Key Takeaways

• Mobile internet blackouts now routine across Russia

• Kremlin claims outages stop drones, but strikes continue

• Experts warn shutdowns hurt civilians more than Ukraine

• Critics fear a permanent, heavily censored internet model

SOURCE: NBC NEWS

Iran first, now Russia. What are the despots afraid of???

No mobile Internet! Finally, a real reason for Russians to rise up against Putin's regime! 😆

28 minutes ago, candide said:

No mobile Internet! Finally, a real reason for Russians to rise up against Putin's regime! 😆

It will take much more than that, but it is something.