Putin jams mobile internet in parts of Russia after Khamenei assassination
Vladimir Putin is tightening his grip on Russia’s internet as fears mount inside the Kremlin that digital surveillance systems could be turned against the state.
The Russian President’s newfound fears come after Israel used Iran’s networks to kill former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Across Moscow and other major cities, the disruption is widely visible, as office workers struggle with blocked connections, teenagers are forced to constantly switch VPNs, and taxi drivers are left navigating without online maps.
Over the past week, mobile internet has reportedly been completely down every day in parts of central Moscow, St Petersburg and beyond.
‘These measures are taking place,’ Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
‘They are partly related to the fact that a number of foreign companies refuse to comply with the norms of Russian legislation, and partly due to security measures against the threat of Ukrainian drones.’