Life without consistent internet is the new norm in many Russian regions. Frequent mobile outages and restrictions are transforming daily life far beyond Moscow.
In a stark economic impact, authorities in Khakassia and Sakha (Yakutia) have slashed financial aid for soldiers fighting in Ukraine and their families due to budget shortfalls. Read more on the cuts: t.me/sibrealii and t.me/Govorit_NeMoskva.
Separately, the head of Buryatia has called for the ‘eradication’ of cormorants from Lake Baikal, citing overpopulation concerns. A controversial move, to say the least. Read more: Interfax.
Food supply issues persist in remote Russian settlements. Nikolskoe on the Commander Islands faced three months without fresh supplies, and Surinda in Krasnoyarsk is seeing empty shelves. More here: nemoskva.net, kamtoday.ru, t.me/Sib_EXpress.
The Ulyanovsk region has imposed a permanent mobile internet blackout, initially intended for sensitive areas, but now impacting entire suburbs until the Ukraine invasion ends.
In Ufa, Bashkortostan, residents near an oil refinery frequently targeted by Ukrainian drones face constant mobile internet jamming and call interference. Life is definitely changing there. Local reporting: ufa1.ru.
Bashkortostan’s head, Radiy Khabirov, openly linked these outages to the ‘special military operation,’ calling it a ‘systemic problem’ that shows the war’s widespread impact.
These internet blackouts are forcing a return to cash. Residents rely less on taxi apps, and businesses are using SMS for appointments. Cash circulation surged by $8 billion from July-Sept. Learn more: The Moscow Times.
The Ulyanovsk region has indeed implemented Russia’s first permanent mobile internet blackout, a measure driven by security concerns tied to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, affecting both strategic sites and residential areas. This unprecedented move underscores the tightening grip on information control.