Since launching the illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the russian state has increasingly sought to control, censor and constrict its domestic information environment, the UK Defense Intelligence reports.
New proposed amendments to russia's communications legislation would allow the Federal Security Service to cut off individual telecom subscribers without court orders, citing "state security". The draft, which has cleared a key government commission, builds on the 2019 Sovereign Internet Law, which enabled russia's isolation from global networks, as well as domestic traffic control and surveillance.
Read more: UK Defense Intelligence: russia's Total Losses Exceed 1.14 Million
As the federal executive agency responsible for monitoring, controlling and censoring russian mass media, Roskomnadzor's powers have also expanded to reroute or sever internet access during perceived threats.
Independent outlets warn of growing surveillance, with Telegram infrastructure firms reportedly being linked to russian intelligence. Ukrainian authorities have called the move "a tool of repression, masked as security".
As Defense Express previously reported, in October 2025, russia launched approximately 5,300 one-way attack unmanned aerial systems at targets across Ukraine, a moderate decrease from the 5,500 OWA UAS russia launched in September 2025. It is highly likely that russia's October 2025 launch rate was moderately reduced due to worsening weather conditions.
Read more: UK Defense Intelligence Reports on Cold Winds and Cold Wars: russia's Drone Tempo Falls in October
