A sharp increase in Ukrainian drone attacks on targets deep inside Russian territory has prompted the Kremlin to temporarily halt internet services, leading to disruptions for consumers, companies and public services.
The local blackouts — which lasted from a few hours to several weeks this summer — have been stepped up in response to Kyiv using mobile-guided drones to hit Russian air bases. The number of mobile data outages hit more than 2,000 in July and August, more than triple the level in June, according to data from Na Svyazi, a Russian technical support project.
“The war has finally reached Russia,” said Mikhail Klimarev, director of Internet Protection Society, an exiled Russian digital rights group. “Drones are arriving, and this is how they’re trying to defend themselves.”
