As of: March 25, 2026 • 1:43 p.m
So far, Moscow’s everyday life has been fully digitalized. But now the authorities are repeatedly switching off the mobile internet – ostensibly for security reasons. Citizens now have to return to old habits.
By Silke Diettrich and Ina Ruck, WDR
A Russian comedian recently posted a video on Instagram showing himself carrying a satellite dish on his back, routers strapped to his legs, and an antenna in his hand – a satirical commentary on the increasing difficulty of accessing the internet in Russia. However, the situation is no laughing matter for many Russians.
Access to social media platforms like Signal, WhatsApp, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, YouTube, and Facebook has been restricted, requiring users to employ VPNs to bypass these blocks. Authorities are actively suppressing these VPN tunnels, even prohibiting their advertisement. Thousands of websites, particularly those of independent media and human rights organizations, remain blocked.
Moscow’s Center Paralyzed
The Russian government is now implementing intermittent mobile internet shutdowns, a practice previously tested in regions and now impacting Moscow. This disruption significantly affects daily life in a fully digitalized city. Taxi services become unreliable, digital navigation systems fail, and demand for traditional maps and radios has surged.
Card and mobile payments frequently fail, forcing many to revert to cash transactions. Russian newspapers report that Moscow companies experienced losses exceeding 50 million euros within just five days of these network outages.
Official Reason: “Security Concerns”
The mobile internet disruptions also impact communication, as many Russians rely on apps that function solely through mobile internet connections. The situation is described as “intimidating” by one student, who acknowledged the stated security rationale but expressed concerns about speaking openly about the issue.
Another resident of Moscow, originally from the border city of Belgorod, expressed a preference for peace and security over internet access, echoing the Kremlin’s justification for the shutdowns. Authorities cite security concerns, potentially related to drone activity, although drone attacks continue to occur, as evidenced by a temporary closure of Saint Petersburg airport on Monday due to a drone attack.
Anti-Internet Song in State Television
A children’s ensemble from Volgograd recently performed an anti-internet song on Russian state television, singing, “We don’t want that, you can’t discover us online. We’re not on your internet.” This performance reflects the government’s broader effort to promote domestic alternatives and control the flow of information.
The Kremlin aims to encourage the use of applications that the state can control, such as Messenger MAX, which has been developed under government auspices. Critics express concerns about potential surveillance through these platforms. Millions of Russians are now compelled to use Messenger MAX to access essential services like bill payments and school communications.
While the mobile internet is restricted, access remains available to government websites, emergency services, the postal service, and train schedules, as well as state-regulated media.
Recent reports indicate that mobile internet service has been restored in central Moscow after weeks of intermittent outages.