Post by : Badri Ariffin

In Russia, citizens are increasingly grappling with daily hurdles as mobile internet outages affect regions from the Pacific to the Volga. These interruptions impact everything from daily commutes to parents' abilities to monitor diabetic children.

Failures of credit card systems at tram stations, offline ATMs, and inaccessible messaging apps are becoming commonplace. Traveling abroad now carries the fear of losing mobile connectivity, complicating communication and data access.

Authorities claim these shutdowns aim to disrupt Ukrainian drones utilizing Russian mobile networks. However, the ongoing restrictions have not curbed drone attacks on oil facilities, sparking debates over their actual effectiveness.

During outages, only state-sanctioned services on designated “white lists” remain operable, including some government websites and select online vendors. Banking access can be inconsistent, leaving many unable to handle crucial financial transactions.

In Vladivostok, Marina expressed her unease about relying solely on a state-run banking application. In Ulyanovsk, a commuter faced difficulties securing payment for a tram ride when his card malfunctioned. Mothers of diabetic children are left anxious as apps that once offered real-time glucose updates become unavailable.

Meanwhile, officials promote a “technology-free lifestyle,” with social media campaigns encouraging outdoor activities over screen time. However, many citizens respond with skepticism instead of excitement.

New regulations complicate the use of foreign or inactive SIM cards, restricting SMS and data for a full day unless reactivated manually. Certain SIMs in cars or portable devices may not be reactivatable at all, resulting in challenges for both families and businesses.

Messaging applications, particularly WhatsApp and Telegram, are facing significant throttling or outright bans in various regions. The state-promoted MAX app, however, is preinstalled on all devices, despite lacking end-to-end encryption and potentially compromising user privacy. Although it boasts 50 million registered users, daily activity remains notably lower than its global competitors.

Many Russians have turned to VPNs to circumvent restrictions, yet these services are often targeted as well. For a significant portion of the population, internet blackouts have become a frustrating norm, making vital services like navigation, banking, and deliveries reliant on digital systems.

In this challenging landscape, daily life is a precarious balancing act as citizens learn to adapt under increasing state supervision, shaping Russia's digital ecosystem for 2025.

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