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Russia Shuts Down Mobile Internet in Siberia—But Won’t Say Why
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Authorities in Russia’s Krasnoyarsk region have imposed “temporary restrictions” on mobile internet access, citing vague national security concerns—yet offering few specifics, with Governor Mikhail Kotyukov confirming the measure, urging residents to remain understanding on July 29.
“These restrictions are tied to the need for heightened security in certain areas of the Krasnoyarsk territory based on current intelligence and to prevent potential network-based threats,” Kotyukov wrote. He did not clarify what the threats involved.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has not reported any drone attacks or other specific incidents in the region that might justify the shutdown.
“Similar measures are being carried out in other parts of the country as well,” Kotyukov added.
“We ask for your understanding in this situation. The protection of our citizens and infrastructure is our highest priority.”
Residents first began reporting widespread mobile internet outages on July 26.
Telecom providers MTS and Beeline stated that the disruptions stemmed from causes “beyond their control.” Another major provider, T2, attributed the outages directly to “security measures.”
Just days later, on July 29, the anti-terrorism commission of Russia’s Sverdlovsk region also announced it would be slowing or cutting mobile internet access for security reasons.
“In conditions where mobile services are unstable, we recommend using wired internet or Wi-Fi, planning travel with offline maps, and considering alternative, non-internet-dependent payment methods,” the commission advised.
These recent outages follow a growing pattern of internet restrictions across Russia, which officials often justify as efforts to thwart Ukrainian drone operations, even in regions located thousands of miles from the front line. Critics, however, warn that the blackout strategy serves as a broader tool for digital repression.
In an increasingly connected economy, the move is disruptive. Transportation apps, delivery services, and even digital payment systems falter under these restrictions, leaving many Russians without access to essential services. Observers argue the real motive may be more political than defensive: preparing the population for full-scale digital censorship.
“In Russia, we say there’s nothing more permanent than the temporary,” quipped Sarkis Darbinyan, co-founder of digital rights NGO Roskomsvoboda, in a recent interview.
Earlier, in a coordinated cyberattack, pro-Ukraine hacker group “Silent Crow”, in partnership with Belarusian Cyber Partisans “BY”, have reportedly completely destroyed the internal IT infrastructure of Russian airline Aeroflot.
