Moscow is experiencing widespread mobile internet outages as the Russian government expands restrictions it claims are necessary for national security. The disruptions, which began in earnest in early March 2026, are impacting daily life for millions of residents and raising questions about the Kremlin’s motives. The situation highlights a growing trend of internet censorship within Russia, a move experts say is aimed at consolidating control over information and suppressing dissent.
While authorities attribute the outages to countering the threat of Ukrainian drones, many Muscovites are skeptical. “No one is happy about this. No one understands why it’s happening, or rather, everyone seems to understand why,” one Moscow resident, who works in the arts industry, told NBC News in a text message on March 17, 2026. “We feel powerless and unable to influence it. We expect a complete blackout within six months.”
The outages are not limited to Moscow. Systematic mobile internet disruptions have been occurring across Russia since May 2025, though the capital had previously been largely unaffected. Residents are increasingly reverting to cash transactions as mobile payment systems turn into unreliable. Some are even purchasing older technologies like plattegronden (maps) and walkietalkies as communication options dwindle, according to reports.
Experts suggest the intensifying internet censorship is part of a broader Kremlin strategy to exert total control over the online sphere, a plan that has been in development since the start of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022. This approach mirrors tactics employed by Iran, a key ally of Russia, which implemented a near-total internet blackout in January to quell protests.
“The (Russian) regime perfectly understands — learning from the experience of its allies as well — that the prevention of any mass protests and/or their suppression requires strict control,” Ryhor Nizhnikau, a Russia expert at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, told the Kyiv Independent on March 21, 2026. “Currently, these developments in Moscow, as well as other regions, give us a glimpse of a new reality that (Vladimir) Putin builds for Russia: a new infrastructure that permits the regime to notice ‘everything’ online, control what one can do and preventively identify threats, and most importantly, cut off internet access at any moment.”
The move towards greater internet control is also seen as a preparation for potential future confrontations, including with NATO. According to the Institute for the Study of War, President Putin is transforming Russia into a more tightly controlled state, reminiscent of the Soviet era. The development underscores growing concerns about the erosion of civil liberties within Russia and the potential for further restrictions on freedom of speech.
The outages come amid increasing restrictions on online activity in Russia, a crackdown that has been widening since the invasion of Ukraine. Officials have expressed concerns about the security of its own leaders following U.S.-Israeli efforts to target Iranian officials, prompting a further tightening of controls. The Kremlin has not provided a clear timeline for when internet access will be fully restored, leaving residents bracing for prolonged disruptions.
