Anonymous
(ID: pk/7Y5v1)
6/25/2025, 8:39:18 PM
No.508712832
6/25/2025, 8:39:18 PM
No.508712832
Russian city of Rostov-on-Don cuts mobile internet for days, blames drones
The Russian city of Rostov-on-Don has been experiencing a multi-day mobile internet blackout, with regional authorities citing the need to thwart drone attacks as the cause. The move represents a significant escalation from previous measures, which involved merely throttling speeds at night.
Residents of the southern Russian hub, located near the border with Ukraine, have reported a near-total loss of mobile data services from major operators including MTS, Beeline, and Megafon since Tuesday. The outage has disrupted daily life, crippling services that rely on mobile connectivity, such as ride-hailing and delivery apps.
The regional government officially attributed the prolonged shutdown to "ensuring the security" of the region. An operational headquarters tasked with counter-terrorism has previously considered full nightly internet shutdowns to prevent drones from using mobile base stations for navigation.
However, the official explanation has been contradicted by at least one major telecom provider. Mobile operator MTS reportedly informed customers that the service disruption was due to "illegally installed equipment," a claim that raises more questions than it answers and points to a potential lack of coordination or a cover story for a more sensitive operation.
This is not the first time Rostov has faced internet restrictions, but the current city-wide, multi-day blackout is unprecedented. Since late 2024, authorities have typically limited such measures to slowing down internet speeds to 512 kbit/s during nighttime hours or upon special request from security forces. Similar, though usually shorter, mobile internet shutdowns have been implemented in numerous other Russian regions, often coinciding with periods of heightened drone threats.
The Russian city of Rostov-on-Don has been experiencing a multi-day mobile internet blackout, with regional authorities citing the need to thwart drone attacks as the cause. The move represents a significant escalation from previous measures, which involved merely throttling speeds at night.
Residents of the southern Russian hub, located near the border with Ukraine, have reported a near-total loss of mobile data services from major operators including MTS, Beeline, and Megafon since Tuesday. The outage has disrupted daily life, crippling services that rely on mobile connectivity, such as ride-hailing and delivery apps.
The regional government officially attributed the prolonged shutdown to "ensuring the security" of the region. An operational headquarters tasked with counter-terrorism has previously considered full nightly internet shutdowns to prevent drones from using mobile base stations for navigation.
However, the official explanation has been contradicted by at least one major telecom provider. Mobile operator MTS reportedly informed customers that the service disruption was due to "illegally installed equipment," a claim that raises more questions than it answers and points to a potential lack of coordination or a cover story for a more sensitive operation.
This is not the first time Rostov has faced internet restrictions, but the current city-wide, multi-day blackout is unprecedented. Since late 2024, authorities have typically limited such measures to slowing down internet speeds to 512 kbit/s during nighttime hours or upon special request from security forces. Similar, though usually shorter, mobile internet shutdowns have been implemented in numerous other Russian regions, often coinciding with periods of heightened drone threats.