Russia Tests Internet Shutdown System, Disrupting Life in Moscow

Key Facts

Published: March 16, 2026 Location: Moscow Source: Wall Street Journal

• Russia is testing a nationwide system that can shut down mobile internet during periods of unrest, with recent outages affecting millions in Moscow.
• The Kremlin says the shutdowns are meant to stop Ukrainian drones from using mobile networks, but analysts believe they are testing broader censorship controls similar to systems used in Iran.

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

MOSCOW (Worthy News) – Russia is expanding tests of a nationwide system designed to shut down internet access during times of unrest, leaving millions in Moscow temporarily cut off from mobile data and online services, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

In recent days, residents of the Russian capital—home to more than 13 million people—have struggled to perform routine tasks as mobile internet service was disrupted. Commuters exiting subway stations were unable to order taxis or access online maps, while remote workers crowded into cafés seeking stable Wi-Fi connections.

The Kremlin has defended the shutdowns as a security measure intended to prevent Ukrainian drones from using mobile networks for navigation. However, analysts say the outages appear to be part of a broader effort to test infrastructure that would allow the government to restrict information and communications during political crises.

Experts note that Moscow has been building systems similar to those used in Iran during protests, including a “whitelist” of government-approved websites that remain accessible during internet blackouts. State media outlets, official government portals, and domestic apps such as the government-controlled messaging platform Max are among the sites allowed to function.

The outages have disrupted businesses and daily life across several regions of Russia. Pharmacies have closed when medicine tracking systems went offline, online banking services have been interrupted, and families relying on medical monitoring devices have faced serious disruptions.

Business losses in Moscow alone reportedly reached about 5 billion rubles (roughly $63 million) over five days, according to Russian business newspaper Kommersant.

Russia’s parliament recently passed legislation requiring telecommunications companies to shut off mobile data when ordered by the Federal Security Service (FSB), signaling that such outages may become more common as the war in Ukraine continues.

Despite increasing restrictions, many Russians are turning to virtual private networks (VPNs) in an attempt to bypass censorship. Authorities have moved to ban the promotion of VPNs and remove them from app stores, but their use continues to grow.

Analysts say the gradual tightening of internet controls is creating what some have described as a “digital iron curtain,” slowly reshaping how Russians access information and communicate online.

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