In 2025, residents of Russia's border regions face regular mobile internet outages. The government justifies these restrictions as measures against Ukrainian drones and in the name of security.
People report being unable to call emergency services without internet, having to rely on radio communication. Restrictions target both mobile internet and messengers like Telegram and WhatsApp. Additionally, Russian authorities have enacted new laws allowing the detention of citizens for searching for so-called "extremist materials" online.
Recently, mobile communication restrictions have become systemic, not only in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine but also in ordinary Russian cities. Most initiatives are defended as a means to hinder Ukrainian drones and restrict the use of foreign messengers.
Ordinary Russians are dissatisfied: small protests against internet restrictions, while limited in scale, still occur. Experts argue that the Kremlin's main aim is total control over the information space and preparation for larger conflicts.
At the same time, heavy fighting continues on the front: Russian troops are making active advances near Pokrovsk despite significant losses. Ukrainian defenders keep receiving community and charity support, notably through the purchase and supply of drones.
Supporting the army and spreading information remain key tools in the fight against the informational and military challenges of the war.
