Russia has experienced escalating mobile internet disruptions in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other cities since early March, leaving millions unable to access banking apps, navigation services, and messaging platforms. The outages, which authorities attribute to security measures against Ukrainian drone attacks, mark the Kremlin's most aggressive push yet to control digital communications amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

President Vladimir Putin signed legislation last month requiring telecom operators to block cellular and fixed-line internet access upon orders from the Federal Security Service, or FSB. The law took effect on March 3, prompting immediate reports of widespread problems with mobile data, calls, and texts across major carriers in Moscow, including inside the State Duma. Shutdowns have since become routine, with mobile internet fully cut off daily in parts of central Moscow and St. Petersburg, according to Reuters reporters and foreign diplomats.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov linked the restrictions to protecting critical infrastructure from drone threats that exploit cellular networks for navigation. He stated the measures would persist "for as long as necessary." The crackdown extends beyond outages: WhatsApp has been blocked for noncompliance with local laws, Telegram faces throttling since late March with a full shutdown planned for early April, and over 400 VPN services, up 70% from late last year, have been prohibited to prevent circumvention of bans.

The disruptions have severely impacted daily life. Residents report inability to use ride-hailing apps, contact family, or conduct transactions, forcing a return to paper maps, pagers, walkie-talkies, and landlines. Retailers noted surges in sales of these outdated devices. One week's outage in Moscow alone cost businesses an estimated 3 to 5 billion rubles, or $34.8 million to $58 million.

Public frustration is mounting against a backdrop of high inflation and stalled progress in Ukraine. IT specialist Alexander Isavnin remarked, "Putin really wants every Russian citizen to feel alone and rejected." Activists like Dmitry Kisiev called the justifications "absurd," arguing the government aims to block alternative information sources. Protests were attempted in 17 regions on March 29 but were denied; at least 25 arrests followed, including 18 in Moscow. Even pro-Kremlin voices, such as journalist Anastasia Kashevarova, warned of a growing "wall of mistrust" between people and government.

Analysts see this as preparation for a sovereign internet akin to China's Great Firewall, isolating Russians from global networks while promoting state alternatives like the MAX app. The measures coincide with intensified censorship since the 2022 invasion, blocking platforms including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Signal. Foreign diplomats describe it as a bid for tighter domestic control amid war uncertainties.