Many foreign websites were blocked on mobile phones in central Moscow on Friday as part of restrictions that have disrupted the Russian capital for over a week. The measures, which authorities say are needed to fend off Ukrainian drone attacks, have caused significant losses for businesses reliant on cellular internet.
Industry experts suspect the restrictions may be a rehearsal for a broader internet shutdown if the Kremlin decides to cut off access to the global web. The intermittent outages have prompted some residents to resort to outdated devices such as walkie-talkies, pagers, and media players.
The shutdowns have severely impacted cafes, restaurants, and shops in Moscow that depend on mobile internet for payments. ATMs and parking meters have also stopped working. Taxi apps now offer the option of calling by phone and paying in cash. During some periods, even cellphone coverage for calls was halted.
According to the business daily Kommersant, Moscow businesses lost between 3 and 5 billion rubles ($38 million to $63 million) in five days of shutdowns, with other estimates running higher. Retailers have reported a surge in demand for pagers, portable radios, and stationary phones.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the measures are in strict conformity with the law and will last as long as necessary for security. He said the government will look at ways to compensate businesses for losses but offered no specifics.
