Residents receive repeated alerts as mobile networks face prolonged disruptions, raising fears that authorities plan systematic internet lockdowns.
As reported by Center for Countering Disinformation under the NSDC of Ukraine.
In Russia, the use of warning SMS about prolonged disruptions to mobile internet is rising, and at the same time they are testing the introduction of so-called whitelists of sites that will remain accessible even during outages.
According to the Center for Countering Disinformation at the NSDC of Ukraine, warnings are complemented by SMS messages, and they are testing the mechanism of open whitelists of sites that will remain accessible during outages.
«Russians are being warned about prolonged disruptions to mobile internet by sending appropriate SMS messages. Concurrently, the implementation of “white lists” of sites that will remain accessible even during outages is being tested»
– Center for Countering Disinformation at the NSDC of Ukraine
According to the Center for Countering Disinformation, mobile internet in Moscow was recently unavailable for about 19 days. Partial restoration of the network may indicate preparation for further restrictions. A similar pattern had previously been tested in the regions: the internet would disappear from time to time, and later the blockages would become longer.
Even among media traditionally loyal to the authorities, these innovations provoke outrage. They compare internet outages to “Stalinism,” noting that restrictions on the network and mobile communications could turn the country into a technologically backward region.
The Center for Countering Disinformation emphasized that the ultimate goal of the Russian authorities is to create a “digital iron curtain” to limit Russians’ access to independent sources of information and to bolster propaganda.
For this reason, the Kremlin may readily sacrifice citizens’ welfare, driving the country into technological backwardness.
According to the Center for Countering Disinformation at the NSDC, in various regions of Russia in 2025 mobile internet was disconnected more than 11,000 times.
As a result, the population’s dependence on official announcements grows and access to independent sources declines due to cyber-restrictions and censorship.
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