Tallinn, Estonia – A quick melody by a blogger that regrets the irony of its bad internet in the south Russian Rostov I got more than half a million views on Instagram within two weeks.
“How do you say that you are from Rostov without saying one word? “Our internet until 12 o’clock, there was no connection at all. No need to be angry, just get used to it.”
The complaints submitted by Ocepian-unable to pay electronically to grocery stores, or having to use paper maps while driving-are not isolated from Rostov-ON-DON, which limits Ukraine, and as a home to the southern military region in Russia, it is targeted by drones frequently.
In the last two months, the Internet of the mobile phone, which officials say is necessary Ukrainian drones frustratedDozens of Russian regions – from those near the fighting to parts of Siberia to the Far East. Some interruptions were also reported with Wi-Fi.
The Russians, who were contacted by Associated Press, talked about cards that do not pass, taxi applications and ride exchanges do not work properly, which are ATMs that sometimes fail.
Experts refer to the unprecedented nature of measures and warning against long -term consequences in a country where the Kremlin is already greatly. Reducing freedom online.
Anastasia Chirmont, director of policies in Eastern Europe and Central Asia in the Digital Rights Group now, said that such a closure in the name of security gives legitimacy to the public and opens the door to powers that are surrounding the restrictions.
Experts say the trend started in May, when Russia celebrated the eighty anniversary From the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, foreign figures flocked to Moscow in a large military procession.
Capital has suffered from severe disturbances in the internet mobile connection for several days, and Dmitry Peskov confirmed that these were intentional restrictions due to Ukrainian drone attacks. When asked about the time it lasted, he replied, “This will be done as needed.”
Russia has previously restricted the smartphone connection, with isolated cases during the protests, as well as in the areas adjacent to Ukraine.
Lawyer Sarkis Darbinian, founder of the Russian Russian Rosomfubuda Group, said that the closures in the capital had sent a signal to the authorities throughout the vast country, it is a useful tool.
Ukraine “Spiderweb Operation” In early June, the drones attacked containers on trucks that deeply attacked airports inside Russia, which made officials more eager to take action.
He told AP: “They really were afraid that drones may now appear, such as Jack in the box, in any Russian regions.”
By mid-July, deliberate closures spread to most of the country, according to Na Svyazi-Russian “to stay in touch”-an activist group that follows the availability of the Internet.
On Tuesday, the group reported that the Internet of the mobile phone was closed in 73 of more than 80 regions. In 41 of them, there were reports on the interruption of the wide range network as well, while the restrictions imposed on the wide -ranging internet occurred in six areas, while mobile phone connections were good.
Some regional officials confirmed that the mobile internet was restricted for security reasons. The governor of Nizhny Novgorod, Ghiv Levs, said this month that the procedure will remain in its place in the region, east of Moscow, “as long as the threat remains.”
When he was asked Thursday if this mass closure was justified, Peskov said, “Everything related to ensuring the safety of citizens, everything is justified and everything is a priority.”
The Russians say from the affected areas that interruptions can last for hours or days; It is also difficult to distinguish patterns, as the service operates in one part of the city but disappears elsewhere.
In Voronezh, near Ukraine and often targeted by drones, one of the residents said she felt that she was in a “cave” in early July with no mobile phone or Wi-Fi in her home. The woman, who spoke to AP, said, provided that her identity was not disclosed due to security concerns, that she was not able to connect to the Internet the next day.
Natalia, who also spoke on the condition that the family name is withheld for safety reasons, said that the mobile internet in the southwestern city of Samara “comes out at the most indispssible moments.” She said that the Wi-Fi network at home was recently slowed down to a stop close to 11 pm, as it remained this way for a few hours.
Victor Shkortoko, who owns retail stores and other companies there, said. But the mobile internet service was in his office for a whole week. He said that some of his smaller stores that rely on mobile networks have suffered from disturbances, but nothing is crucial.
“I don’t feel any very strong inconvenience,” said Gregory Khoromov of Nizhny Novgorod, the fifth largest city in Russia, where a regular closure was reported on a large scale. “I have a office job and work either at home or in the office and I have either online, Internet or Wi-Fi.”
In rural areas, towns and small villages, where the Internet of mobile phones is often the only way to access online, the situation was more difficult.
The Russian media reported that pharmacies in such areas have been struggled, and the Independent Pharmacy Association confirmed on AP. VikToria Presnyakova, the president of the association, said in a statement that medical prescriptions should be recorded in special programs, but this becomes impossible without internet connection to weeks.
Social media user in Baljuroud region on the border with Ukraine He complained on the social media page of the governor of the state of Viashalav Ghadkov that without the Internet for a mobile phone and a work alarm system, the villagers should slip on a railway to warn the neighbors of the attack. The authorities promised to search to improve communication in the region.
The authorities also announced in another place to reduce disturbances by opening Wi-Fi sites. According to what they reported to establish an agency to coordinate the closure, according to Izvsitia, a Kremlin -backed newspaper, which was martyred with unidentified government sources. Peskov said he was not aware of the plan.
The Washington -based Washington Institute for the Warback to study the war, Katina Stepanino, said that Russian and Ukrainian drones use Internet mobile networks to work, so the closure is one of the ways in which the authorities are trying to face attacks.
But it is also part of the long -term Kremlin effort to curb the Internet. The authorities have actively monitored the online content in the past decade, preventing thousands of independent media sites, opposition groups and human rights organizations.
After Russia’s full invasion of Ukraine in 2022, The government banned the main social media Such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as the encrypted Messenger reference and a few other correspondence applications.
YouTube – which is very popular in Russia – was disabled last year, while expert experts launched by the authorities. Kremlin blamed YouTube Google’s owner for not maintaining his devices properly in Russia.
The Internet monitoring on the Internet routinely prevents virtual private network services that help to defraud restrictions, and there are plans to introduce a national messenger application, which is expected to replace the foreigner.
Besides the closure, this is part of a bigger campaign “to prove control of the Internet, which is something the Kremlin failed to do 20 years ago at the same level as China.”
Zhyrmont’s Access Now says it is “very disturbing” that the Russians are used to living with increasing internet restrictions, including closure.
She said, “This should not be a modern fact.”