Crimea Implements Mobile Internet Restrictions Amid Ongoing War, Following Ulyanovsks Lead

Mobile internet access in annexed Crimea will be limited throughout the duration of Russia’s military conflict in Ukraine as a precaution, according to Sergei Aksyonov, the Governor appointed by Moscow.

«We must acknowledge this situation and adjust accordingly,» Aksyonov stated in an interview with the state-owned news agency Sputnik. These limitations could result in either reduced internet speeds or complete access loss.

«We cannot allow the enemy to exploit the internet against us,» he later mentioned on Telegram, referencing frequent Ukrainian drone assaults that, as he claimed, depend on Russian mobile networks for remote operation.

Crimea becomes the second area where officials have publicly declared indefinite mobile internet restrictions related to the ongoing conflict, following a similar announcement from the governor of Ulyanovsk region in central Russia last month.

Since early May, Russia has been experiencing intermittent internet disruptions coinciding with an increase in Ukrainian drone attacks, which have spread to many regions, including parts of Siberia and the Far East.

Authorities assert that these measures aim to hinder drone activities.

During the outages, officials have implemented a «white list» of sanctioned services that should remain accessible despite mobile internet interruptions; however, many users have reported dissatisfaction with the effectiveness of these services.