St. Petersburg Operators Warn Residents of Internet Outages Before May 9

Regional and independent outlets describe the cuts as part of a wider pattern of information control inside Russia during the war in Ukraine. They argue that limiting mobile internet in Moscow, St Petersburg and many regions also weakens the ability to organise protests and share real-time footage of the parades. Many expect similar shutdowns to be used again during future sensitive dates or political events.

• •Independent Russian and Ukrainian outlets report that mobile internet has been restricted in central Moscow since 5 May, not only on 9 May.
• •Critics say the shutdowns in at least 21 regions go far beyond what is needed to counter drones.
• •Rights groups warn that cutting mobile data blocks live streaming and makes it harder to document police actions during public gatherings.
• •Commentators link the internet limits to earlier crackdowns on protests and online dissent since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
• •Some regional reports suggest that local authorities may keep using similar shutdowns during elections or other politically sensitive events.