Trending Now - Russia Intensifies Efforts to Isolate Its Internet Infrastructure
WHO:
The Guardian - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on the internet blocks in Russia.
The Guardian - Arturo Filastò is a researcher at the Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI).
The Guardian - Analysts at Amnezia VPN are involved in monitoring internet censorship in Russia.
TechRadar - Russia's Ministry of Digital Development announced new plans regarding VPN usage.
WHAT:
The Guardian - Russia is attempting to splinter its internet from the rest of the world through a gradual effort characterized by mobile internet blackouts and restrictions on traffic.
The Guardian - Since March 20th, 2026, data from OONI indicates that Telegram is increasingly blocked across more than 500 different networks.
The Guardian - Russian authorities suggested they would completely block Telegram from early April 2026.
The Guardian - Mobile internet in Moscow's city center was entirely shut down earlier in March 2026, disrupting banking services and phone calls.
The Guardian - Russian retailers reported increased sales of pagers, paper maps, and mobile phones due to internet blockages.
TechRadar - Russia's Ministry of Digital Development is implementing new measures to reduce VPN usage, including blocking, fines, and fees.
WHERE:
The Guardian - The internet shutdowns and restrictions are occurring across various cities and provinces in Russia, including Moscow and St. Petersburg.
The Guardian - Mobile internet in Moscow's city center was shut down.
WHEN:
The Guardian - The effort to splinter Russia's internet is ongoing as of 2026.
The Guardian - Mobile internet shutdowns have been occurring for at least a year prior to March 2026.
The Guardian - Telegram blocks began increasing on March 20th, 2026.
The Guardian - Russian authorities indicated a complete block of Telegram would occur from early April 2026.
WHY:
The Guardian - The Russian government is implementing these measures to control communication and information flow, with initial justifications for mobile internet outages citing protection against Ukrainian drones.
HOW:
The Guardian - The shutdown relies on government-mandated equipment deployed across different networks, with varying effectiveness.
The Guardian - Censors are blocking access to Telegram more crudely and on a larger scale than previous efforts, indicating greater technical capability.
The Guardian - Authorities have the technology to potentially shut down home networks, similar to actions observed in Iran.
(UPDATED March 31, 2026 19:25 UTC)
President Trump has commented on the ongoing internet restrictions in Russia, where the government is attempting to isolate its online presence through mobile internet blackouts and increased censorship. Since March 20th, data shows that access to Telegram has been increasingly blocked across more than 500 networks, with authorities planning a complete shutdown of the platform by early April. In response to these internet disruptions, Russian retailers have reported a surge in sales of pagers and paper maps, as citizens adapt to the challenges of limited online communication.