At least 21 regions in Russia are preparing for large-scale internet outages ahead of May 9

Ahead of the parades and marches on May 9, large-scale mobile internet restrictions are expected in at least 21 regions of Russia. This was reported by Novaya Gazeta Evropa, which analyzed warnings from telecom operators, banking services, and regional media.

According to the newspaper, operators and services have begun sending out notifications to users about possible internet outages in regions hosting celebratory events, parades, and Immortal Regiment marches. Most frequently, the messages indicate that the restrictions could be in effect from May 5 to May 9.

Mobile operators MTS, Yota, MegaFon, T2, and Beeline are warning of possible outages. Similar notifications have also appeared on Sberbank and Yandex Go.

Earlier, the BBC Russian Service, citing sources, reported that "more significant" mobile service restrictions are expected in Moscow this year. According to these data, on May 5, 7, and 9, Moscow may restrict not only mobile internet, but also mobile communications, SMS messaging, and the operation of so-called "white lists."

On the evening of May 4, reports of possible restrictions also emerged in St. Petersburg, Kazan, and the Moscow region. Subsequently, regional media outlets began reporting en masse about preparations for shutdowns in other cities.

Novaya Gazeta Evropa found such reports in Astrakhan, Volgograd, Voronezh, Yekaterinburg, Kaliningrad, Krasnodar, Nizhny Novgorod, Omsk, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Samara, Saratov, Tula, Ufa, Chelyabinsk, and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

Similar reports appeared in regional media in Krasnoyarsk and Smolensk, but local authorities there deny plans to shut down the internet.

According to monitoring projects, restrictions have already been recorded in Moscow and St. Petersburg. On May 5, at around 12:30 PM Moscow time, the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media announced the end of mobile internet shutdowns in Moscow. However, according to the Amnezia Pulse project, the restrictions were still in place 15 minutes later.

Mobile internet outages were also reported by residents of the Samara, Nizhny Novgorod, and Moscow regions, as well as the Perm Krai.

The current restrictions were prompted by security measures surrounding Victory Day celebrations. Last year, on the eve of the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, Russian authorities tested mass internet shutdowns in Moscow for the first time. Then, on the morning of May 7, residents of the capital began reporting disruptions in mobile phone service and internet.