Main points
- A large-scale mobile Internet outage occurred in Moscow and St. Petersburg, affecting the operation of city services and communications.
- The restrictions were imposed from May 5 to 9 for security reasons during mass events, leading to the shutdown of ATMs, airports, and complications in urban infrastructure.
Digital blackout in Russian capitals: why Moscow and St. Petersburg were left without communication / Collage of Channel 24/Unsplash
Residents of Russia's largest megacities have faced widespread mobile internet outages. The restrictions, which simultaneously affected Moscow and St. Petersburg, have significantly affected the operation of city services and the daily lives of millions of “people.”
What is happening to the Internet in Russia?
Since the very morning, residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg began to report en masse about the complete absence of mobile Internet. Communication problems are of a global nature for these regions: the network disappeared in several areas of the Russian capital at once, and the situation turned out to be so serious that even the so-called “white lists” – special lists of resources that usually remain available during point-by-point blockings – ceased to function. 24 Channel summarizes the reports of Russian and Ukrainian media about this.
According to data from monitoring services DownDetector and Detector404, a sharp surge in user complaints began around 8:00 a.m., as reported by Fontanka SPB Online and the Russian BBC News service on Telegram.
The problems affected absolutely all major telecommunications operators, including MTS, T2 (formerly Tele2), Beeline, and Yota. In particular, T2 operator experienced outages not only within Moscow, but also throughout the Moscow region.
BBC News quotes Russian political scientist Mikhail Vinogradov, who confirmed the criticality of the situation on his Telegram channel: “Center of Moscow. Mobile Internet does not work. Including white lists. It still worked at night,” he wrote.
The situation is complicated by the fact that it is impossible not only to access the Internet through mobile networks, but also to send a regular SMS message. The only way to access the network for smartphone owners remains a Wi-Fi connection. Mobile devices have now effectively turned into offline gadgets if they do not have access to stationary access points.
Why is the internet blocked?
The reasons for such a large-scale outage were known in advance thanks to warnings sent by telecommunications operators on behalf of the Russian authorities. On the eve of May 9, 2026, Muscovites began receiving notifications about possible restrictions, which were officially explained as security measures in preparation for mass events.
The official newsletters stated: “In order to ensure security measures in Moscow, temporary restrictions on mobile Internet and SMS are possible during the preparation and holding of festive events from May 5 to 9.”
The consequences are much broader.
The lack of mobile Internet has already led to serious disruptions in the city's infrastructure, including the transport sector. Taxi drivers, whose work is completely dependent on online maps and order-receiving systems, have suffered the most, writes Readovka. The publication says that “due to disruptions in the mobile Internet, taxi drivers have occupied the capital's fast food restaurants” to use free Wi-Fi and try to take at least some orders.
Those who did not have enough space near the routers were forced to travel outside the Moscow Ring Road (MKAD), since mobile Internet continues to function in some places in the region. Some drivers, unable to work normally, decided to take a day off until full connectivity was restored.
No Moscow airport is open, ATMs have stopped
The situation in Moscow resembles a rehearsal for a real technological apocalypse. Currently, not a single airport in the Russian capital is functioning. This has led to the fact that the residents of the metropolis are forced to return to the living standards of the Soviet Union, writes “Real War”. There are serious difficulties with paying for parking spaces, and many shops and gas stations accept only cash.
Problems have even affected the banking sector: ATMs are massively refusing to serve customers, and some Muscovites are not even being paid their salaries due to system failures.
What they say in Ukraine
Experts from the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine emphasize that such events are a sign of the regime's weakness.
Mass communication restrictions and the “holiday” truce declared by Putin have once again shown that, despite all the efforts of Russian propaganda, the Kremlin is actually unable to protect major Russian cities for holding events that are “sacred” to Russia.
– commented on the CPD page.
In addition, according to the Center's analysts, the situation with the parade is being used as an excuse to strengthen the digital “iron curtain” and restrict citizens' freedoms.
Sad parade
This year's parade promises to be special: for the first time in 19 years, it will be held without the participation of military equipment, and the Kremlin itself will be completely closed to visitors.
How long will the restrictions last?
Restrictions in Moscow and St. Petersburg will last at least until May 9. Until then, residents are advised to use Wi-Fi instead of mobile internet as much as possible, although even access to sites from the so-called “white lists” remains questionable.
The Russian capital, which for years tried to appear as a modern technological center, in a few days turned into a zone with limited access to basic digital goods, demonstrating the vulnerability of the system to the new challenges of war.
The dictator is afraid of drones
Additionally, we recall that on May 4, 2026, while speaking at the opening of the 8th Summit of the European Political Community in Yerevan, Volodymyr Zelensky made a number of resonant statements. He emphasized that if Russia held a parade on May 9 without military equipment, it would mean that the Russians were afraid of the appearance of Ukrainian drones over Red Square.
Zelensky bluntly stated that the absence of weapons at the parade indicates the Kremlin's fear, particularly of Ukrainian drones. He emphasized that this summer will be the moment when Putin will decide whether to expand the war or turn to diplomacy, Liga.net writes.
Separately – not from Zelensky – data from a report by one of the European intelligence agencies appeared that the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation has significantly strengthened security measures around Putin since March 2026 due to fears of a conspiracy or a coup attempt, and the dictator himself spends most of his time in bunkers and fears an attempt on him using drones.