Overview
- Russia's Interior Ministry said it will detain anyone who protests the blackouts, and officials say mobile limits in Moscow have been lifted even as many neighborhoods still report poor service.
- Independent outlet The Bell, cited by The Kyiv Independent, reported that the shutdowns were ordered by the government and relayed through the FSB’s Scientific and Technical Service, which allegedly gave providers maps of areas to cut.
- During the disruptions, access was narrowed through a published whitelist that let people reach only approved services, media, and government sites.
- Authorities have slowed foreign messaging apps such as Telegram and WhatsApp and are steering users toward Max, a state‑backed messenger that comes preinstalled on new devices.
- The outages have spread beyond Moscow and disrupted daily life, with taxis, deliveries, and card payments faltering and sales of paper maps and walkie‑talkies jumping, while experts warn the moves build capacity for rapid, repeatable shutdowns across Russia.