Asger Risom
Authorities cite security measures as reason, amid rising drone attack concerns
Mobile internet services in Moscow were significantly disrupted on Monday, just as military aircraft flew over the city in rehearsal for the upcoming Victory Day parade. According to HotNews.ro, Russian authorities warned citizens that similar outages could continue throughout the week due to heightened security measures.
The disruptions, affecting Russia’s largest telecom providers and other online services, coincided with early morning flyovers conducted in preparation for the May 9 celebrations—a politically important holiday marking the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
Security Over Connectivity
Russia’s emergency alert system sent out messages on Monday cautioning about mobile internet restrictions from May 5 to 9. The official justification was to “ensure safety during the preparation and celebration” of the parade. The restrictions appear to follow a now-familiar pattern, with similar limitations imposed during major state events attended by President Vladimir Putin, especially as fears of drone strikes and sabotage grow amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Victory Day remains a central fixture of the Kremlin’s patriotic messaging. Putin is expected to attend the parade in Red Square alongside around 20 visiting foreign leaders, as Russia attempts to project strength and unity amid its protracted conflict with Kyiv.
Warnings, Accusations, and Rising Tensions
The internet disruptions come just days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected Putin’s proposed three-day ceasefire for the holiday period. Zelensky emphasized that Moscow holds responsibility for ensuring the safety of foreign delegations and insisted that Kyiv would not lower its guard.
Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, accused Zelensky of directly threatening the May 9 events. Former President Dmitry Medvedev added to the inflammatory rhetoric, warning that “May 10 might not come for Kyiv” if any “real provocations” occur during Victory Day.
As both symbolic and real conflicts continue to unfold, the Kremlin’s efforts to maintain digital and physical control over the capital signal its anxiety about potential disruptions—whether digital, aerial, or political.