The Russian government has recently taken new measures to block mobile Internet access for up to 24 hours for mobile users returning from abroad. Officials said the move was aimed at preventing Ukrainian drones from using Russian SIM cards to navigate. According to the Russian Ministry of Digital Development, if the SIM card is connected to a local Russian network again after connecting to a foreign network, it will be automatically disabled until the user confirms that it belongs to a real user and not an unmanned device. Users can restore access in advance through verification code authentication or calling operator customer service.
This system automatically detects roaming behavior at the network level and temporarily isolates traffic while the device re-authenticates the home operator's network. The background confirmation process is similar to the anti-fraud system, and the restriction will not be lifted until the authentication is completed. Officials describe this measure as a "security buffer" to prevent SIM cards from being integrated into "hostile remote control devices."
The measure caused unexpected disruptions along the border. Due to overlapping signals, many local users' devices often automatically switch to foreign carrier networks, resulting in a loss of service even without actually crossing the border. Officials recommend that residents turn off the automatic roaming function and manually lock to a domestic operator to avoid being misjudged by the system.
Connectivity issues are particularly acute in the Ulyanovsk region between Moscow and Kazakhstan. Since drone attacks on power substations and fuel depots this fall, restrictions on local mobile data have become commonplace.
Local officials said the measure was ordered by Moscow and only the federal government has the authority to lift it. Regional leaders stressed in public statements that the measures were necessary during the war and that the restrictions would last until "the threat is completely eliminated."
This "disconnection" policy is also part of Russia's efforts to strengthen the unified control of telecommunications networks by the Federal Security Service (FSB). Relevant legislative amendments, if passed, would give the FSB the power to directly order service interruptions when "emerging threats" arise, without going through civilian regulators.
Although many large service platforms (such as Yandex, VKontakte, Odnoklassniki, Gosuslugi, Ozon, Wildberries and other e-commerce companies) can still be accessed during this period, some independent services and encrypted messaging applications have encountered speed restrictions or temporary bans. Earlier this year, the government also announced that it would restrict voice calling functions on platforms such as Telegram and WhatsApp to combat digital fraud, but this was in conjunction with other wartime measures.
However, telecommunications analysts and digital rights groups have questioned the technical basis of the policy, pointing out that most Ukrainian drones actually rely on GPS, GLONASS or internal navigation systems rather than mobile networks. Organizations such as Access Now believe that this move is more of a symbol of loyalty from local officials than a true anti-drone defense method.
Since May, many places in Russia have cut off mobile networks as a primary emergency measure after being attacked by drones. Local network outages often occur near energy facilities, airports, and industrial parks designated as "strategic facilities," forming a large-scale mosaic of network outages in western and central Russia.
These measures mean that national communications networks are increasingly coming under direct state supervision. Currently, passengers returning to Russia will still face a waiting period for automatic network disconnection and user verification. This also reflects the new trend of the Russian government's continuous strengthening of control over digital communications during wartime.