Internet service will begin to be cut off in the Moscow region, following Moscow
14 March 22:12
Following Moscow, mobile internet and communication services may be shut down in the Moscow Region as part of “federal-level security measures.” This was stated by Maxim Korkin, chairman of the Moscow Regional Duma’s Committee on Transport, Roads, and Information Technology, in an interview with Russian media, according to [Komersant].
Given the restrictions, he advised local residents to use Wi-Fi to access the internet and VoWiFi technology for calls and messaging.
The deputy also noted that mechanisms for accessing socially significant resources have been established in the region. According to him, these resources include the mobile app for the regional government services portal, the Moscow Region healthcare portal, the single authentication and authorization service, the “ZhKG-Kontur” housing and utilities infrastructure monitoring system, and the “System 112” digital services.
Meanwhile, in Moscow, where mobile internet access has been restricted since early March, “whitelists” of permitted websites have been implemented. The list includes, in particular, the government services portal, government agency websites, Yandex services, the social network VK, banks, and state-controlled media.
Amid the internet restrictions, sales of pagers in Moscow have risen by 73%, walkie-talkies by 27%, and atlases and guidebooks by 50%. The Yandex Taxi service has switched to phone-based ride requests, while courier services report a drop in orders. According to media sources, the losses from the blockades for the capital amount to 1 billion rubles per day.
Authorities explain the measures as necessary to protect against Ukrainian drones. In February, Vladimir Putin signed a law allowing operators to cut off communications at the FSB’s request without liability to subscribers. The Russian dictator’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, urged Russians to prepare for prolonged outages.
According to the “On the Line” project, internet restrictions are in effect in at least 62 regions, and “whitelists” are being used in 58 of them. According to Top10VPN, by the end of 2025, Russia had become the world leader in the duration of internet shutdowns—37,166 hours, affecting 146 million people.
