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Crimean Authorities Limit Mobile Internet “Until War’s End”, Tell Residents to “Just Accept It”
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![Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk]( "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
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Russian-installed authorities in temporarily occupied Ukrainian Crimea have imposed long-term restrictions on mobile internet access that will remain in place until the end of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, The Moscow Times reported, citing Sergey Aksyonov, the Russian-appointed head of the peninsula, on December 23.
Aksyonov said residents would have to adapt to a new reality. “Here you just have to accept it and switch to a different mode of work… I consider these measures sufficient to ensure Crimea’s security,” he said in an interview with the Russian radio station Sputnik.
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Aksyonov added that there was “no other way” to proceed and noted that the internet can be used “for both good and bad purposes.”
The move follows earlier steps by Crimea’s mobile operator Volna, which announced restrictions on WhatsApp and Telegram, citing a decision by Russia’s media watchdog Roskomnadzor. Local officials have said that shutdowns of mobile communications and internet access during drone attacks are coordinated with federal authorities, according to The Moscow Times.
Crimea has become the second region in Russia where residents have effectively been left without mobile internet until the war ends. In November, authorities in Russia’s Ulyanovsk region adopted a similar measure, referring to a federal decision to expand a so-called “security zone” around strategic facilities.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin has publicly defended mobile internet shutdowns, arguing they are necessary for security. During a televised Q&A session, he claimed that foreign-based internet services help Ukraine “select targets for drone strikes,” though he did not explain how this would work in technical terms, The Moscow Times wrote.
Russian authorities have increasingly disrupted mobile internet since the spring, most often during Ukrainian drone attacks, but in some regions the restrictions have lasted for extended periods.
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In mid-December, mobile internet in the Russian city of Saint-Petersburg was reportedly unavailable for more than a week. Officials later said security agencies block or slow access to certain sites based on the operational situation, The Moscow Times reported.
Amid growing disruptions, Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development has compiled a “white list” of more than 60 websites and services meant to remain accessible during shutdowns, including major banks, marketplaces, state-aligned media outlets, and domestic social networks.
However, these services do not function reliably in all regions, leaving many Russians unable to pay for goods, work or study remotely, or use ride-hailing and public transport services, The Moscow Times stated.
Previously, it was reported that the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has successfully targeted important components of Russia’s air defense systems at the Belbek military airfield in occupied Crimea. Using long-range drones from the Alpha Special Operations Center, the Ukrainian forces struck several high-value assets, resulting in significant damage.
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