Russian authorities have increasingly imposed broad mobile internet shutdowns, citing public safety, Human Rights Watch reported. Over the past month, Moscow and Saint Petersburg experienced nearly three weeks of disrupted mobile internet and cellular access. On March 29, at least 14 people were detained at a peaceful protest in Moscow against the restrictions, and five others were detained in other cities, with reports of beatings. Authorities banned protests in at least 40 cities under various pretexts and threatened organizers in advance.
The shutdowns began earlier in March, with central and southern Moscow experiencing network disruptions from March 5. Officials, including presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, justified the restrictions as measures to ensure citizens’ safety. Similar mobile internet blocks started in Saint Petersburg and the Leningrad region on March 9, following warnings of potential Ukrainian drone attacks. While connectivity returned in Moscow by March 24, users in Saint Petersburg continued facing restrictions, often coinciding with emergency alerts.
Internet shutdowns in Russia have been ongoing since at least spring 2025, especially in response to alleged drone attacks, affecting multiple regions including Orel, Vladimir, Nizhniy Novgorod, and Novorossiysk. In some areas, mobile internet has been restricted for over six months. These blocks severely limit access to essential services such as messaging apps, navigation, ATMs, taxis, and online payments, with Russian businesses reportedly losing an estimated 1 billion rubles per day during the Moscow shutdown.
The government introduced “whitelists” of approved websites, including state media, social media, banking, and essential services, but access to even these resources was sometimes blocked. The criteria for inclusion are unclear, and compliance with Russian authorities is mandatory. Platforms like the Russian messenger MAX are included due to cooperation with state agencies, while foreign apps like Telegram remain blocked or targeted.
Authorities rejected notifications of planned protests against the shutdowns in 40 cities, citing various pretexts, and detained or warned organizers ahead of planned rallies. Several organizers faced short-term detention and reports of mistreatment. Internet usage in Russia is predominantly via mobile broadband, making mobile shutdowns particularly disruptive. Landline internet remains less affected but can be blocked using government censorship technology.
Human Rights Watch emphasized that these prolonged shutdowns violate the right to seek, receive, and provide information. The restrictions are neither necessary nor proportionate and do not meet international human rights standards. Russian authorities are urged to restore unrestricted internet access, stop prosecuting peaceful protesters, and allow free access to information, while the international community and tech companies are called on to support censorship circumvention. Hugh Williamson of Human Rights Watch stated that the government has no legitimacy to determine what is “essential” for users or to prevent protests against internet restrictions.
