Nizhny Novgorod Residents Express Outrage Over Mobile Internet Blackouts as Connectivity Crumbles

Residents of the Nizhny Novgorod region in Russia are expressing outrage over a complete loss of mobile internet access, leaving more than 1,500 individuals without any connectivity, as reported by the local media outlet NN.ru on Thursday.

For several months now, frequent suspensions of cellular internet have disrupted daily life in numerous regions across Russia, a response from the government citing security concerns related to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The seven villages impacted in the Volodarsky district currently lack fixed-line internet, which forces residents to depend on mobile networks and signal-boosting devices. However, recent government-ordered mobile internet cuts have rendered these alternatives futile.

“Our oldest child is learning programming, and it’s extremely challenging without internet access,” said resident Maria Gayevskaya in an interview with NN.ru.

“My husband and I are enrolled in a master’s program,” she elaborated. “I want to work online, but that’s impossible now. My husband is the sole breadwinner. Our home is always under construction, and we constantly require funds. At this point, we’re just scraping by.”

On Thursday, villagers gathered publicly in Krasnaya Gorka to air their grievances.

“We’ve been waiting for gas for three decades. The utility poles indicate the presence of fiber optic cable, yet we are not connected. We lack internet access, which is why we’ve come together here,” shared resident Nadezhda Shkenina with NN.ru.

In November, they attempted to record a video appeal to Nizhny Novgorod Governor Gleb Nikitin but were unable to send it due to connectivity issues, prompting some residents to travel to the neighboring city of Dzerzhinsk to communicate their complaints.

“When mobile internet was operational, we managed to get by. Now, with no connectivity at all, we feel completely isolated. In some areas, we don’t even have basic communication at home,” the residents expressed.

Only a handful of applications from the government-sanctioned “white list” of services remain operational.

The villagers have gathered 570 signatures and intend to send letters to the federal government, the prosecutor’s office, and telecommunications companies, according to NN.ru.

During a televised call-in session last week, President Vladimir Putin was questioned about the widespread mobile internet interruptions throughout Russia. He stated that these measures are necessary due to the security risks posed by potential Ukrainian drone attacks and asserted that foreign-based internet services could assist adversaries in targeting strikes. However, Putin did not propose any solutions for addressing the shutdowns.

In spite of the ongoing disruptions, Russian telecom operators have warned that prices for internet and mobile services are expected to significantly increase by 2026.