Crimea Enforces Internet Restrictions Amid Ongoing Conflict, Following Ulyanovsk’s Lead

Mobile internet access in annexed Crimea will be limited for the duration of Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine due to security concerns, according to the region’s Moscow-appointed Governor, Sergei Aksyonov, on Tuesday.

“We have to recognize this situation as a fact and adjust accordingly,” Aksyonov stated to the state-controlled news agency Sputnik. The limitations could manifest as reduced internet speeds or complete outages.

“We cannot allow the adversary to exploit the internet against us,” he further conveyed on Telegram, referencing frequent Ukrainian drone strikes that he claimed utilize Russia’s mobile networks for remote operation.

Crimea is the second area where an official has openly declared indefinite mobile internet limitations related to the war, following a similar announcement by the governor of Ulyanovsk region in central Russia last month.

Since early May, intermittent internet disruptions have been reported across Russia, coinciding with an increase in Ukrainian drone attacks, affecting various regions, including parts of Siberia and the Far East.

Officials assert that these measures are aimed at hindering drone activities.

In light of the outages, authorities have implemented a «white list» of sanctioned services that are expected to remain operational during mobile internet interruptions. However, some users have voiced frustration that these services frequently malfunction.