Russia’s intelligence agency, the FSB, has seized control of the country’s internet infrastructure, triggering widespread mobile outages and forcing citizens to revert to analogue habits and cash transactions.

Key Points

• The FSB’s Second Service has gained authority to shut down mobile internet access to prevent the use of messaging apps and drone navigation.
• Major cities, including Moscow, have experienced intermittent, indiscriminate blackouts that disrupt daily life, banking, and essential digital services.
• Popular platforms like Telegram are largely inaccessible, leading to a surge in VPN usage and a shift toward state-controlled alternatives like the Max messenger app.
• Russian tech companies, including Yandex and Ozon, have identified these internet disruptions as significant risks to their financial performance and operational stability.
• The shift toward a "sovereign Runet" involves a whitelist model that restricts access to non-approved websites during periods of state-mandated connectivity shutdowns.

Why it Matters

The FSB’s consolidation of power over digital infrastructure marks a fundamental shift in how the Russian state manages internal dissent and national security. This transition threatens the country's once-thriving digital economy and risks driving away essential tech talent, potentially setting Russia’s technological development back by decades.