Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development and telecom operators are discussing “internet shutdown rules,” pro-Kremlin media report

The Ministry of Digital Development of Russia and the country's mobile operators have been discussing the introduction of unified rules for mobile internet shutdowns. The pro-government publication Izvestia reported the fact of the talks, citing a federal official and a senior telecom executive.

According to the outlet’s sources, orders to shut down mobile networks are currently issued by local authorities, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, or security agencies. As a result, operators often get duplicate or discoordinated requests. One of the interviewees noted that such shutdowns had previously been ordered by Russia's communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, and security services — mainly ahead of mass events. However, with the rise in drone attacks, the number of entities authorized to demand internet restrictions has increased significantly.

The idea of centralizing the authority for declaring shutdowns was supported by Karen Kazaryan, director of the Internet Research Institute, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Digital Development and previously took part in drafting the “sovereign Runet” law. According to Kazaryan, a unified shutdown mechanism would “spare users from unnecessary disruptions” and reduce operators' workload. Kazaryan also proposed appointing a specialized directive body and establishing an alert system for telecom providers.

Shortly before that, the Ministry of Digital Development rejected the idea of sending mandatory SMS notifications to users during shutdowns. In June, a group of lawmakers proposed informing citizens about network disruptions, but just a few days later, the ministry dismissed the idea as impractical.

The authorities justify mobile internet shutdowns as a necessary measure taken to prevent drone attacks. However, as The Insider found, nearly half of the cases were not directly related to air raids. While Russia saw at least 230 verified shutdowns in May and June, only 78 coincided with actual attacks. In 26 regions affected by the disruptions, there were no drones at all.

Notably, when Kommersant asked Nikita Danilov, CEO of Fly Drone, to comment on the decision by the Rostov Region’s Ministry of Digital Development to slow down mobile internet at night, the industry expert called such measures inefficient:

“Determining location via cell towers is a common navigation method for drones. However, on its own, this measure cannot effectively prevent UAV attacks. Instead, we need to adopt a comprehensive anti-drone approach that includes coordinated work of air defense systems and the presence of effective electronic warfare tools at multiple sites.”

Shutdowns also occurred during public holidays and mass events. For example, during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 18–21, mobile internet was cut off in parts of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region without explanation. Authorities in Murmansk, Tula, Yakutia, Omsk, and other regions also acknowledged temporary communication restrictions, citing “security,” “operational circumstances,” or “maintenance.”

The Insider's sources in several Russian regions reported that the authorities may be using internet shutdowns not only to combat drones but also to restrict access to Telegram and foreign websites. Individual regions have so-called “gray lists” in place — registries of websites that are not officially banned but are nonetheless inaccessible. Analysts at the monitoring project NA SVYAZI have identified such cases in 33 regions.

According to NA SVYAZI, 655 mobile internet shutdowns were recorded in Russia in June 2025 — a global record — after a comparatively low total of 69 in May. In 2024, only 296 such cases occurred across the entire world, with India, Myanmar, and Pakistan leading the way.