Muscovites are resorting to walkie-talkies and pagers as unexplained internet disruptions hit the capital, raising concerns that the Kremlin is tightening its grip on online activity. Users in central Moscow and St Petersburg first reported difficulties accessing mobile internet about a week ago, with many unable to load websites or apps, and some losing service entirely.
The Kremlin stated this week that the outages are being introduced to “ensure security” and will remain “as long as additional measures are necessary”, without providing further details. Human rights activists suggest the shutdown may be linked to testing a new “whitelist” system, which would restrict access to a limited number of government-approved websites and essential online services.
The disruptions have severely impacted courier services, taxi apps, and retail businesses. Russia’s business daily Kommersant estimated daily losses in Moscow could reach about 1bn roubles (£9.4m). The outages have even affected the State Duma, where lawmakers complained on Thursday that mobile networks and WiFi were not working inside the building, leaving them effectively cut off from the outside world.
In response, Russians have turned to older communication methods. Sales of walkie-talkies have risen by 27%, pagers by 73%, and demand for paper maps of Moscow has nearly tripled, according to data from e-commerce platform Wildberries & Russ. The shutdown comes amid a broader crackdown on online space, with authorities already blocking WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube, and rumours that Telegram could face restrictions next month.
A Russian lawmaker said on Thursday that security services could gain the ability to limit VPN traffic within six months, potentially cutting off one of the last ways many Russians access blocked websites. Meanwhile, officials have been promoting a state-backed “super-app” called Max, modelled on China’s WeChat, believed to be controlled by Russia’s security services.
