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Russia Bans Import of Starlink and Foreign Satellite Equipment Amid Internet Crackdown
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The Russian government has introduced a ban on the import of foreign satellite communication equipment, including devices such as Starlink terminals, as part of tighter controls over communications infrastructure.
This was reported by The Moscow Times on April 30, citing the report from the Russia’s Cabinet of the Ministers.
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“The import into the Russian Federation of radio-electronic equipment intended for transmitting and/or receiving radio waves from space-based communication objects (communication satellites, including dual-use ones) of foreign states is prohibited, according to the list attached, if they do not have a decision by the State Commission on Radio Frequencies allocating the relevant frequency bands,” the report states.
According to The Moscow Times, the measure comes amid a broader tightening of internet control across Russia. Since May 2025, authorities have repeatedly restricted mobile internet access under the stated aim of countering Ukrainian drone threats. Such shutdowns have affected more than 60 regions.
Data from Top10VPN indicates that in 2025 nearly all residents in Russia experienced internet disruptions, with a total duration of 37,166 hours, the outlet reported.
Russian authorities are also reportedly planning broad restrictions on mobile communications in Moscow ahead of the May 9 Victory Day parade.
The planned measures are expected to exceed those of previous years and are scheduled to be implemented on May 5, 7, and 9.
Sources say the ограничения will not be limited to mobile internet but will also affect SMS services and even some “whitelisted” platforms that typically remain accessible during disruptions.
The restrictions are expected to extend beyond central Moscow to the entire area within the city’s ring road, significantly expanding the scale of past shutdowns.
Meanwhile, Russia is exploring a system that would allow a limited group of “verified” users to retain mobile internet access during network shutdowns.
According to state news agency RIA Novosti on April 22, the proposal was put forward to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin by Dmitry Gusev, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Control. The initiative would classify users by verification status, granting continued connectivity to those considered “trusted” even as broader restrictions are enforced.
Under the plan, individuals whose phone numbers are linked to verified accounts on the government services portal Gosuslugi could be placed on a “white list,” allowing them to bypass mobile internet outages that have become increasingly common across the country.
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