Katya, 32 years old, was returning from St. Petersburg to Moscow when her phone suddenly ceased to function. As with many others, she was cut off from basic internet services like maps, tolls, fuel, and bank apps, all without warning.
“There was no warning, no indication how widespread the blackout was, no idea how long it would continue,” she said. And in present-day Russia, such outages are becoming the norm.
Internet Shutdowns in Russia
The disruptions are not isolated; mobile internet networks throughout Russia are now being shut down on a daily basis in many regions. The shutdowns, lasting anywhere from hours and following no predictable pattern, are targeted at disrupting Ukrainian drone strikes. Experts think the drones might be using Russian mobile networks to navigate.
Nation Addicted to Smartphones
These network disruptions are a major hindrance in a nation where millions rely solely on their computers for internet connectivity. From bill payment to driving directions, online services have become deeply embedded in daily life.
The Russian government itself has actively encouraged this dependency, making government services such as job hunting and filing taxes available over the internet.
President Vladimir V. Putin even boasted earlier this year that Russia was ‘a step ahead of many other countries’ in its cyber capabilities.
Frustration and Fear Increase
Even so, individuals are struggling with the abrupt disappearance of connectivity. “They can shut down the internet,” Katya said. She referred to the state’s control over access to the web after nudging people to depend on digital platforms, a ‘digital gulag’.
Katya and her boyfriend did finally arrive home after using a half-downloaded map and calling her boyfriend’s mother to assist in reloading their debit card so that they could purchase gasoline.
Numerous citizens, similar to Katya, requested to be unnamed due to fear of reprisal for criticizing these actions.
