Hardest hit are taxis, courier services, and retailers that rely on mobile data, Moscow blackout

Reports from today, March 25, 2026, indicate that the internet blackout in Moscow—which has persisted in various forms for nearly three weeks—was a top-down government directive. While the Kyiv Independent cited independent Russian outlet The Bell, additional context from other monitors and local reports provides a more detailed picture of the technological and economic “test” currently underway.

Key Developments (As of March 25, 2026)

• FSB Mapping & Directives: Sources in the IT sector revealed that the Scientific and Technical Service Department of the FSB provided internet service providers with specific maps of Moscow designating areas for shutdown. Notably, the FSB “hinted” to providers that the decision was not theirs but came “from above.”
• The “Whitelist” Rollout: The outages are tied to the testing of a new “Sovereign Internet” whitelist system. Under this regime, only pre-approved platforms—such as VK (formerly VKontakte), Yandex, and state-backed news outlets—remain accessible, while global services are severed.
• Economic Impact: Business daily Kommersant and other analysts estimate the disruptions have cost Moscow businesses between 3 billion to 5 billion rubles ($38–$63 million) in just the first five days. Hardest hit are taxis, courier services, and retailers that rely on mobile data for logistics and payments.
• Air Defense Correlations: At least two of the targeted blackout zones reportedly correspond with known air defense deployment sites in Moscow, suggesting a dual purpose: testing domestic censorship and attempting to mask sensitive military movements from potential drone targeting.

Additional Context Not in the Original Report

• Analog “Retro-Tech” Surge: The persistent lack of mobile navigation and messaging has led to a surge in sales of paper maps, pagers, and walkie-talkies on e-commerce platforms like Wildberries as residents adapt to a “pre-digital” lifestyle in the city center.
• Targeted Messaging Crackdown: This shutdown is a precursor to a planned full ban on Telegram, which officials indicate could take effect as early as April 2026. The government is pushing users toward “Max,” a state-monitored messaging app launched in 2025.
• Global Context: According to digital rights monitors like Top10VPN and NetBlocks, Russia ended 2025 as the global leader in internet shutdowns, with over 11,900 documented outages nationwide. The current Moscow event represents the first time these “regional” tactics have been applied at scale to the capital’s elite and economic hub.
• Political Timing: Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggest the acceleration of these shutdowns is intended to insulate the regime from domestic backlash ahead of the September 2026 State Duma elections, ensuring total control over the narrative during a period of potential economic and military strain.

AP Photo / Alexander Zemlianichenko / TASS