RUSSIE PERSPECTIVE

Russian coverage of mobile internet outages is characteristic of the state media system: minimization, security justification and absence of questioning. TASS reports 'temporary communications protection measures' with the Kremlin's codified vocabulary, citing spokesman Dmitry Peskov who affirms all shutdowns are 'carried out to ensure security' and 'in accordance with the law.' The law in question, signed by Putin in February 2026, gives the FSB power to order nationwide shutdowns and shields operators from legal liability.

RIA Novosti frames the blackouts as wartime necessity: Ukrainian drones use mobile networks for navigation, and cutting internet in Moscow protects the population. The 'besieged fortress' narrative justifies every sacrifice. The four major operators (MTS, Megafon, Beeline, T2) are presented as patriotic partners in the war effort.

RT, the international channel, is remarkably silent on the subject for its Western audience, preferring to talk about the energy crisis caused by America's war on Iran. The contrast is stark: RT denounces 'Western censorship' of Russian media while ignoring the internet blackout imposed on its own citizens.

Novaya Gazeta, from exile, is the only voice dissecting the chronology: outages began on March 5, the eve of the FSB law's enforcement, suggesting planning rather than drone-threat reaction. The paper notes outages target Moscow, the most connected city and the most likely to protest.