A mobile internet shutdown in Moscow region, in effect since March 7, 2026, is likely intended by the russian state to disrupt Ukrainian attacks with unmanned aerial systems. The shutdown has had a significant effect on e-commerce and access to a wide variety of e-services, the UK Defence Intelligence reports.
This has led to an increase in sales of paper maps and pagers. Even websites whitelisted by the Kremlin have been difficult to access. The Kremlin has only given scant details of reason for the shutdown, stating that Ukraine is using increasingly sophisticated means of attack, so requiring enhanced technological protection measures.
Read more: UK Defense Intelligence: russia Launches Battalion-Scale Assault Near Lyman as Mechanized Attacks Rise
Other regions have been experiencing shutdowns since summer 2025. On February 20, 2026, Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill which required telecommunications operators to suspend operations at the request of the FSB. The russian authorities also began restricting access to Telegram on March 14, 2026, with experts expecting full blocking by April 2026.
They also ordered the blocking of WhatsApp in February 2026. The Kremlin aims to force russian citizens to switch to russian state-backed messaging app Max, which is regarded by many cyber security experts as a surveillance tool. These measures constitute a further constriction of the information space in russia by the russian authorities who perceive russia to be under information attack from the West.
As Defense Express previously reported, authorities admit intentional disruptions to the messaging platform, citing security risks from Ukraine-linked threats, while the move also limits the spread of independent information.
Read more: UK Defence Intelligence: Telegram Restrictions Signal Tightening Information Control in russia
