Russia says internet outages needed for security measures

MOSCOW (Web Desk): The Kremlin said mobile internet disruptions across parts of Russia will continue for as long as necessary to ensure public safety, following widespread outages reported in Moscow and other cities.

Speaking at a daily briefing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the restrictions would remain in place until authorities determine that additional security measures are no longer required. He accused Ukraine of using increasingly sophisticated methods for attacks, saying Russia needs more advanced countermeasures to address potential threats.

The disruptions come amid a broader tightening of internet controls in Russia. Authorities have recently imposed restrictions on messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, owned by Meta, and Telegram. Officials say the measures are intended to combat criminal activity, while also promoting the state-backed messaging platform Max.

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However, critics argue that the restrictions are aimed at expanding government surveillance and increasing control over online communication.

Residents in Moscow reported difficulties using messaging services and accessing the internet. Some users said messages were delayed for long periods, making it harder to stay in contact with family members and conduct daily activities.

Outages have also been recorded in western Russian regions including Oryol and Tula. People working in business sectors said the disruptions were affecting communication with clients and forcing them to rely on Wi-Fi networks where available.

According to the Russian technology blog Kod Durova, many complaints about the network outages have come from central districts of Moscow, where repeated disruptions have occurred over the past week.

The blog reported that some websites remain accessible through a government-approved “white list,” which includes essential services such as government platforms, banks and state media. The list was introduced last year and continues to be updated by authorities.

The Kremlin has said it will review the impact of the restrictions on businesses and consider possible solutions to address the problems caused by the outages.