Authorities in Ulyanovsk and other cities in the region have officially imposed a permanent mobile internet shutdown until the war with Ukraine ends. The regional government said the restrictions, previously explained by the threat of drone attacks, will now remain in force indefinitely. According to regional digital development minister Oleg Yagfarov, the decision was made at the federal level and is tied to state security concerns.
Officials say such measures are being used not only in the Ulyanovsk region but near special facilities across Russia. The federal authorities have also expanded the boundaries of protected zones, meaning that residential neighborhoods, office buildings, and social facilities have fallen under the restrictions. The exact areas affected have not been disclosed. The region lies about 1,000 kilometers from Ukraine, but in mid-October, according to official reports, drones attacked a substation in Veshkaima, causing two explosions without casualties.
This appears to be the first known case in Russia in which regional authorities have openly announced a complete mobile internet shutdown until the end of the war. Local residents told the publication that disruptions had been happening for some time: as in other Russian regions, restrictions began in the spring amid warnings about UAV attacks, and reports of a total shutdown in the region appeared on November 8.
How the restrictions affect daily life
Formally, a whitelist of services is supposed to remain available during shutdowns, including state services, banking apps, taxi platforms, Yandex services, VKontakte, Odnoklassniki, Ozon, Wildberries, the Mir payment system, and the Max state messenger. But residents interviewed by the outlet said that only taxi and delivery services work with any consistency, while banking apps function unpredictably. As a result, people struggle to pay utility bills, order medicines, and handle routine tasks while away from home.
“As a young person, I value freedom, and any such tightening of the screws hits my psychological state hard. If you are not at home, not at the office, and not in a Wi‑Fi zone, it feels as if you are cut off from civilization,” said Anton, a field geologist and information security specialist.
He said residents are adapting by transferring money in advance, planning routes before leaving home, learning to call taxis by phone, and keeping cash on hand. Yevgeny, who works as a freight expediter, said the shutdowns are especially damaging for work: communication with clients and colleagues depends on messengers, and navigation does not function in most parts of the city. Other residents said they could accept restrictions as a security measure but criticized telecom operators for failing to offer discounts, compensation, or alternatives such as slower internet access. The outlet notes that complaints against operators are widespread, and that in the future they may be required to disconnect subscribers at the request of the FSB and be exempted from liability for failing to provide service. All interviewees’ names were changed for security reasons.