Ulyanovsk Region Implements First Ever Permanent Mobile Internet Restrictions amid Security Concerns

Mobile internet access will be limited in certain areas of the central Ulyanovsk region during Russia’s ongoing “special military operation” in Ukraine, according to statements made by regional officials on Tuesday. This marks the first instance of a permanent internet blackout in the nation.

The interruption, which started in early November, was mandated by federal authorities and affects locations near important government and military installations, as reported by local media. The Kremlin has not issued any public comments regarding the permanent mobile internet shutdown.

The internet restrictions in the Ulyanovsk region also extend to various residential neighborhoods, office spaces, and public buildings, but specific details about the affected areas have not been disclosed for security reasons.

“The decision to enhance security zones around specific sites was made. These restrictions will remain in place until federal authorities decide otherwise,” stated Oleg Yagfarov, the Ulyanovsk region’s Minister of Digital Development, during a press briefing.

Local officials indicated that they lack the authority to remove the restrictions or to compel mobile operators to reimburse customers affected by the service outages.

Residents in the Ulyanovsk region have noted issues with even some services on a so-called “white list” of approved platforms, according to the investigative news organization IStories.

This white list includes providers of government services like Gosuslugi, Russian tech giant Yandex, social media networks Vkontakte and Odnoklassniki, e-commerce platforms Ozon and Wildberries, as well as the Mir payment system.

Regional authorities have expressed anticipation that Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development will implement the white list “very soon,” and they are collaborating with service providers to restore services, including banking applications, electronic school diaries, and local pharmacy websites.

Officials have advised residents to utilize wired internet connections, highlighting that there are over 450 free WiFi hotspots available in the region, and service providers have increased their workforce to accommodate new installations.

Regular internet disruptions across Russia began in early May in response to a rise in Ukrainian drone attacks and have since spread to the majority of regions, including areas in Siberia and the Far East. Authorities maintain that these restrictions are intended to prevent drone strikes.