Moscow to Restrict Mobile Internet for 3 Days During Putin’s Summits

Russian authorities will restrict mobile internet access within Moscow’s Third Ring Road from Oct. 27 to 29, citing security concerns during two international events attended by President Vladimir Putin, Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development announced.

The restrictions coincide with the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) on Oct. 27 and the Russia-Africa summit on Oct. 28–29.

Mobile internet will be unavailable from 11:30 a.m. Moscow time on Oct. 27 and 28, and from 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 29, the ministry said. Access will be limited to services on an approved “whitelist,” while voice calls, home internet and Wi-Fi will remain available.

Russian authorities have previously justified mobile internet shutdowns as a measure to counter Ukrainian drone attacks. Ukraine has intensified its strikes on the Moscow region since the fall.

One of the largest recent attacks occurred on Oct. 23, disrupting air traffic at all four airports serving Moscow. Authorities also evacuated a skyscraper in Moscow City that houses offices of several Russian government agencies, including the Digital Development Ministry.

The GECF forum will take place at Moscow’s World Trade Center, with Putin scheduled to deliver the opening address at 12:45 p.m. Six of the organization’s 12 member countries will be represented at the highest level, Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov said.

Other Topics of Interest

Russian Missiles Strike Kyiv University Campus – 1 Killed, 15 Wounded, Mostly Students

Russian missiles hit a Kyiv university campus, wounding students, as Zelensky warns of more strikes and people possibly trapped under rubble.

Attendees include the presidents of Iran and Equatorial Guinea, the emir of Qatar and the head of Libya’s Presidential Council. Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, will join by video link.

The Russia-Africa summit will bring delegations from 48 of Africa’s 54 countries to Moscow, Ushakov said. Twenty-two countries will be represented by their heads of state. Putin is expected to hold more than 20 bilateral meetings during the summit, according to Vedomosti.

Mobile internet outages have previously affected Moscow for extended periods. In March, mobile internet in the city center was unavailable for more than two weeks, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov citing the need to ensure security.