Not only in Iran: Russian citizens have been disconnected from the Internet for weeks

Widespread Internet disruptions in Russia in recent weeks have become part of the routine for millions of people, affecting almost all areas of life, and promoting the authorities in Moscow to expand control over citizens. Alongside the Kremlin’s official explanations that these are temporary security measures, there is a growing sense of frustration in the public and also among officials in the establishment, who warn of major economic and political consequences.

The extent of the disruptions was revealed, among other things, in an unusual event in the center of Moscow, when a fire broke out in a shopping mall near the Kremlin. According to a report in the New York Times, a reporter sent to the scene was unable to transmit photos or videos because the cellular internet completely crashed, and the Telegram application, one of the main ones in the country, was significantly slowed down. Instead, he had to report by phone to the system. For many, the event illustrated how unstable the digital services, on which the daily relies, have become.

Citizens in Russia have recently been dealing with two types of disruptions at the same time: proactive disconnections of the mobile internet in certain areas, along with the blocking or slowing down of popular foreign applications. Among other things, WhatsApp was completely blocked, and the use of Telegram became very difficult after it was determined that it violated Russian law. At the same time, the authorities are increasing the fight against the use of VPN, which allows to bypass the blocks.

The Kremlin explains the measures mainly in terms of security considerations. According to the authorities, Ukraine is using cellular networks in Russia to direct UAV attacks, and therefore steps are required to limit Internet access. The Federal Security Service is responsible for this area, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said yesterday that these are “only temporary measures,” and promised that when the security need passes, Internet access will return to normal.

According to him, “It is clear that restrictions on Internet access cause inconvenience to many, but as soon as they are no longer needed, the service will be returned in full.” He also emphasized in other statements that the measures stem from security considerations and that they receive broad support.

However, behind the scenes there is growing criticism. A source close to the Kremlin told Reuters that senior officials in the financial system, including bankers and officials, pressured President Vladimir Putin to soften the measures, due to the economic damage caused to businesses that lost millions following the internet shutdowns. According to the source, “most of the Kremlin is dealing with this issue”, and attempts are being made to convince that broad blockades are a problematic step.

There is also an increase in anger among the public. Surveys and testimonies indicate dissatisfaction, especially with the shutdowns of mobile internet, which in some cases have left citizens with only the ability to make calls and send basic text messages. The disruptions led to damage to daily services, disruption of transportation and payments, and even health risks in cases where medical devices failed to transmit data in real time.

All this is happening while President Putin is suffering a severe blow to his powerful image. According to a Bloomberg report, trust in Putin has fallen by more than 8% since January to 67.8%, according to the state polling agency VTsIOM. In early March, it reached its lowest level since the beginning of the war.

The measures are seen as part of a broader trend of tightening internet control in Russia since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022. Authorities have been cracking down on platforms like YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, while at the same time trying to promote a switch to a new government app called MAX. This move met with public opposition, mainly due to fears of increased surveillance.

At the same time, there are signs that the Kremlin is reconsidering the strength of the measures. According to sources familiar with the discussions who spoke to Bloomberg, the public pressure and the fear of political consequences, especially in the run-up to the parliamentary elections in the fall, may slow down the tightening of the restrictions and even keep Telegram active.

However, it is not clear how far the authorities intend to go. For many in Russia, in recent years the Internet has become a central space for communication, information and daily activity, and the current disruptions are undermining that feeling. While the Kremlin assures that this is a temporary situation, many on the ground fear that this is another step on the way to tighter control of the network.