Internet access on mobile devices limited within Irkutsk region following drone incident
In a recent turn of events, the governor of Irkutsk Oblast, Igor Kobzev, has escalated security measures following a series of drone attacks on June 1 in specific regions of Bratsk and Ust-Ilimsk District. The heightened state of readiness, declared from June 18, has been enforced within a 5 km radius around Bratsk Airport and a 7 km radius around the village of Stepanovsky in Ust-Ilimsk District. As a result, mobile internet services have been temporarily suspended in these areas.
Bratsk Mayor, Sergei Dubrovinsky, has clarified that micro-districts such as Sosnovy Bor, SNT "Pтица", and "Vasilok" in the city might be included within the restricted zone. Dubrovinsky reassured citizens that fixed-line internet and Wi-Fi services are operating normally. In a message on his Telegram channel, he urged citizens to remain patient, emphasizing that mobile internet services will be restored once the situation permits.
The Ministry of Defense reported that these drone attacks were orchestrated by Ukraine, targeting military airfields not only in its own territory but delving deep into Russia, even reaching Siberia's Irkutsk Oblast. The audacious operation involved drones launched covertly from trucks parked near the air bases. In Irkutsk and Murmansk Oblasts, several units of aviation equipment were set ablaze, but fortunately, there were no casualties among military or civilian personnel. The drones in Irkutsk Oblast were reportedly launched from a truck in Ust-Ilimsk District and were shortly blocked and destroyed.
Amidst this escalation, Russia has implemented internet restrictions in Bratsk and Ust-Ilimsk District. Although the specific reasons for these restrictions are not fully disclosed, such measures are often instituted in the wake of security incidents like drone strikes, as part of Russia's efforts to manage information flow, control public perception, and prevent panic or misinformation in affected regions. This strategy aligns with Russia's historic pattern of controlling communications after significant military setbacks or incidents on Russian soil.
These coordinated drone strikes, part of Ukraine's evolving tactics, have left about 40 Russian military aircraft, including strategic bombers, damaged or destroyed. This substantial blow to Russia's military capabilities underscores the intensifying conflict between the two nations.
Politics in the Irkutsk Oblast have been impacted by the general-news event of drone attacks, with the governor enforcing restrictions on mobile internet services as part of heightened crime-and-justice measures. Amidst these internet restrictions, the Ministry of Defense has accused Ukraine of orchestrating these attacks and sees this as a significant crime-and-justice issue, highlighting the escalating tensions between the two nations.
