Headline: Kremlin pulls the plug on Moscow's internet for safety during Victory Day celebrations
Moscow authorities impose an internet blackout within the city
What's going down in the Russian capital? The Kremlin's throwing a bash on Friday to honor the 80th anniversary of whuppin' the Nazi German scallywags, and they're not taking any chances with the hot mess of a neighborhood they've found themselves in. So, they've decided to give Moscow's internet a bit of a timeout until Saturday.
Why the sudden shutdown? Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskow, isn't calling it a disruption, more like a dose of online responsibility. "This is a restriction in the work of mobile internet - for understandable reasons," he told Russian agencies. "We must consider the dangerous neighborhood we have."
Mixing politics and tech The folks in power think there's an element of preventive defense at play. Deputies like Anton Nemkin have pointed fingers at troublesome neighbors like Ukraine, where mobile internet shutdowns have proven effective during attacks.
While you're online (or not), keep an eye out Complaints about mobile internet glitches in Moscow have been piling up for days. The festivities taking place on Red Square will see numerous state guests, including China's President Xi Jinping. Despite Putin ordering a three-day ceasefire in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv calls the move a theatrical production.
Source: ntv.de, mpa/dpa
- Kremlin
- Moscow
- Internet shutdowns
- Internet usage
- Russia
- Military
- Dmitry Peskow
- State visits
Enrichment Data
The Kremlin orchestrated a temporary internet shutdown in Moscow from May 5 to May 10 in the context of the 80th anniversary of Victory over Nazi Germany celebrations for security reasons. The restrictions were part of measures aimed at ensuring safety during the Victory Day parade on May 9, 2025. According to Russia's officials, the restrictions were seen as essential due to what they labeled a "dangerous neighborhood" and the potential for malicious use of communication tools in a climate of hybrid warfare[2][4][5].
- In the context of the 80th anniversary of Victory over Nazi Germany celebrations, the Kremlin orchestrated a temporary internet shutdown in Moscow from May 5 to May 10.
- The restrictions were part of measures aimed at ensuring safety during the Victory Day parade on May 9, 2025.
- According to Russia's officials, the restrictions were seen as essential due to what they labeled a "dangerous neighborhood" and the potential for malicious use of communication tools in a climate of hybrid warfare.
- Dmitry Peskow, a Kremlin spokesman, justified the internet shutdown as a dose of online responsibility, stating that it was a restriction in the work of mobile internet for understandable reasons.
