What’s actually happening
1) Widespread mobile internet disruptions
- Since early March 2026, Russians—especially in Moscow and St. Petersburg—have reported major mobile internet outages.
- These outages can be highly localized: one street works, the next has zero signal.
- All major telecom operators have been affected simultaneously, suggesting state-directed restrictions.

This is not the entire internet being shut off nationwide—but it
is severe enough to disrupt daily life.
2) People really are reverting to older tech
Because apps, maps, ride-hailing, and even phone verification systems stop working:
- Residents have turned to:
- Walkie-talkies
- Pagers
- Landlines
- Paper maps
- There’s even reported surging demand:
- Walkie-talkie and pager sales rising sharply
- Paper atlas/map sales spiking

So yes—the headline isn’t made up. In affected zones, people really are improvising like it’s pre-smartphone era.
3) Why the Kremlin says it’s doing this
The official explanation:
- “Security reasons”, especially:
- Countering Ukrainian drone attacks
- Protecting sensitive sites
Russia has increasingly used
signal jamming and shutdowns during the war to disrupt:
- GPS
- mobile data
- remote drone control

This aligns with a broader trend:
Russia had
the highest number of internet shutdowns in the world in 2025.
4) Bigger strategic goal: “sovereign internet”
This isn’t just about drones.
Russia has been building a system often described as a
“Russian Great Firewall”:
- Ability to centrally control or isolate the internet
- Push users toward state-approved platforms
- Block or degrade foreign services
Recent outages are likely:
- Testing this system under real conditions
- Stress-testing how society functions with restricted connectivity