Russians may remember 2025 as the year the authorities tightened their grip on the digital space, as months of mobile internet outages continue to interfere with everyday routines.
From credit cards failing on public transport to ATMs unable to connect and messaging apps going dark, the disruptions have become a persistent source of stress. Some parents of diabetic children say the blackouts are dangerous, preventing them from remotely tracking their kids’ blood sugar levels during school hours.
Officials claim the shutdowns — which began in May and have affected dozens of regions — are meant to prevent Ukrainian drones from using mobile networks for navigation. Yet analysts say they’ve done little to reduce drone strikes on Russian infrastructure. In November alone, an average of 57 regions reported daily mobile service interruptions, according to the monitoring group Na Svyazi.
During these outages, access is often limited to a narrow selection of government-approved websites and services — the so-called “white list.” What remains available varies by provider but usually includes official sites, Yandex services and a few online marketplaces, prompting concerns among citizens who see the restrictions as a sign of growing control.
Additional rules now block data and text services for SIM cards that have been inactive or recently taken abroad, creating complications for devices like cars, routers or meters that can’t receive text messages needed to restore service. Some parliamentarians warn this could disrupt essential infrastructure reliant on SIM-based communication.
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Authorities have also begun throttling WhatsApp and Telegram, Russia’s two most widely used messaging apps, while heavily promoting a state-backed alternative called MAX — a platform critics argue lacks privacy protections and openly shares user data with the government.
Despite widespread frustration, many Russians appear resigned to the changes. Analysts say the government aims to slowly limit access to independent information until most users give up trying to circumvent restrictions. VPNs offer a workaround, but they too are frequently blocked, requiring constant replacements.
Digital rights advocates warn that more severe steps could be ahead, including total blocks on major messaging platforms.
For now, as outages continue and new restrictions emerge, many Russians fear an increasingly constrained digital future.
Source: AP