Russians face necessity of pre-purchasing food supplies: retail outlets shutting down amidst domestic circumstances

6:40 PM May 7 | Unfiltered Update

People living in several central Russian cities like Yaroslavl, Tver, Moscow, and more, are facing connectivity issues and no internet access, making it impossible to withdraw or transfer money. Alarmingly, reports suggest that the outages are expanding, reaching cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Shops are shutting down, public transportation payment terminals are freezing, and courier companies are swiftly canceling orders. What's the cause, and is there a possibility this digital chaos will reach your city?

The chaos started in Yaroslavl on May 6, with residents reporting total loss of mobile internet. Major network operators, seemingly in sync, cut off access to the internet. Struggling users turned to Wi-Fi networks, but they proved a temporary solution, with street and store networks scarce. Officially, the reasons behind these disruptions have been labeled as "security issues," but no additional details have been provided.

Retail Shutdown: No Internet, No Business

The dire situation isn't limited to internet users. As per eyewitness reports, stores in Yaroslavl are closing their doors due to the internet outage. Modern cash registers, payment cards, and delivery services are now redundant "gadgets."

Transport in Turmoil

Residents have taken to social media expressing their frustration:

"What am I supposed to do now for traveling? The payment terminals rely on mobile internet!" - a network user crudely stated.

Card payments are no longer an option for many, and the remaining cash is carried only by the most prepared.

Moscow Joins the Chaos

The turmoil has now sprawled over to Moscow! Residents have been given a heads-up: the outages are scheduled from May 7 to 9! Speculations are rife: is this a temporary issue or will Russia's digital age take a 30-year detour?

Helpful Insights:

Digital Dilemma: Mobile operators have complied with the Russian authorities' restricting internet access in preparation for the Victory Day celebrations on May 9. This move, aimed at enhancing security, includes a crackdown on potential illegal activities using mobile communications and the internet[1][3][5].
Impending Drone Threat: The internet disruptions have also been attributed to possible drone attacks, especially from Ukraine. Over 30 Russian cities, including Yaroslavl and Moscow, have experienced mobile internet throttling or disconnection due to this perceived threat[2][3].

These internet restrictions are expected to last until May 10, affecting a wide array of services such as banking apps and taxi services[1][3].

Extension of internet outages is anticipated to impact cities beyond Moscow, such as Novgorod, which could face disruptions in general-news access and banking transfers by 2025, affecting politics and crime-and-justice reporting.
As the politics surrounding these internet outages remain unclear, residents are increasingly relying on street Wi-Fi networks for general-news updates and currency transfers during the outages, despite their scarcity.
Ongoing internet outages in Yaroslavl and Moscow have compelled businesses to close, leading to a halt in crime-and-justice investigations due to lack of evidence transfer and prosecution updates, creating a digital chaos affecting the entire country.
The impending digital dilemma, potentially including drone attacks, raises questions about the future Internet security not only in Russia but throughout the region, posing a threat to the stability and safety of regional communications infrastructure.