Residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg have been grappling with widespread and unexplained disruptions to mobile internet services for approximately one week, forcing many to revert to older communication technologies like walkie-talkies and pagers. This shift comes as the Kremlin intensifies its control over Russia's digital landscape, testing new restrictive measures and promoting state-owned applications.
Widespread Connectivity Issues Cripple Daily Life
Users across central Moscow and St. Petersburg first reported significant difficulties accessing mobile internet about seven days ago. Numerous individuals found themselves unable to load websites or applications, while others experienced complete service loss, rendering them incapable of making phone calls. The outages have created substantial challenges for everyday activities, from ordering taxis and sending work emails to simply messaging family members.
Dmitry, a 31-year-old consultant based in Moscow, described the situation as "a massive headache." He elaborated, "I'm having trouble ordering a taxi, sending work emails, or even just messaging my family." The disruptions have particularly impacted courier services, taxi applications, and retail businesses. Russia's prominent business daily, Kommersant, estimated that daily losses from the internet shutdown in Moscow could reach approximately 1 billion rubles, equivalent to $12.6 million.
Kremlin's Security Justification and "Whitelist" System
The Kremlin stated this week that the outages were implemented to "ensure security" and would remain in effect "as long as additional measures are necessary." However, officials provided no further details regarding the specific reasons behind these restrictions. Russian authorities have previously claimed that internet shutdowns were efforts to thwart Ukrainian drone attacks, though experts widely assert such measures are unlikely to be effective.
Human rights activists and observers suggest the shutdowns may be connected to Moscow testing a new "whitelist" system. Under this proposed framework, only a limited number of government-approved websites and essential online services would remain accessible to Russian citizens. Officials have indicated this "whitelist" would include "all resources needed for life," such as marketplaces, delivery services, and online pharmacies. Critics argue the system would dramatically censor Russians' access to the broader internet.
Parliament and Public Turn to Analog Alternatives
The connectivity issues have even reached Russia's parliament, the State Duma. Lawmakers complained on Thursday that mobile networks and Wi-Fi were non-functional inside the building, effectively cutting deputies off from the outside world and preventing internet access. In response to these widespread disruptions, many Russians have turned to older forms of communication.
Data from the e-commerce platform Wildberries & Russ, cited by Russian media, reveals a significant surge in sales of analog communication devices. Sales of walkie-talkies have increased by 27%, while purchases of pagers used to communicate with clients and staff have skyrocketed by 73%. Additionally, demand for paper maps of Moscow has nearly tripled, highlighting the profound impact of the digital blackouts.
Broader Crackdown on Russia's Online Space
These latest disruptions occur amid a renewed and aggressive crackdown on Russia's digital environment. Authorities have already blocked popular platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube. Growing rumors suggest the widely used messaging app Telegram could face restrictions as early as next month. Furthermore, a Russian lawmaker indicated on Thursday that the country's security services might gain the ability to limit VPN traffic within the next six months, potentially severing one of the last remaining methods for many Russians to access blocked websites.
Simultaneously, officials have been actively promoting a state-backed "super-app" called Max, modeled on China's WeChat. This application is widely believed to be controlled by Russia's security services, representing another step toward centralized digital control. Internet shutdowns have become increasingly common in Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In 2025, the country ranked first globally for the number of internet disruptions, according to estimates by the research group Top10VPN.
The combination of unexplained outages, proposed restrictive systems like the "whitelist," and the push toward state-controlled platforms underscores the Kremlin's escalating efforts to dominate Russia's online sphere, forcing citizens to adapt with both modern workarounds and nostalgic technologies.
