Ulyanovsk is the first Russian region to be left permanently without mobile internet - to protect against Ukrainian drones. The sectors around strategically important sites - military airfields, weapons factories and energy infrastructure - are affected by the measure, ARD reported.
"The reason is to strengthen security", the local government said. At the same time, it categorically rejected media reports that the entire Ulyanovsk region will remain without mobile internet until the end of the Russian offensive war. Residents in the so-called "blind zones" without a mobile network, it was recommended that they install an internet cable to their homes at their own expense.
The German public media recalls that mobile internet has been turned off in entire cities and regions in the past during air raids, for hours at a time. This has also happened in Moscow and other large cities such as St. Petersburg. What is new in the case of Ulyanovsk is that it is a geographically limited, permanent shutdown.
More Russian security measures
The fear of drone attacks, with which Ukraine defends itself against Moscow's offensive war, is now omnipresent in Russia. And the hits that have led to heavy explosions and fires, as well as destruction, are constant. Security measures are constantly increasing.
For example, those arriving in Russia from abroad have their SIM card mobile connection functions blocked for 24 hours, as well as the sending and receiving of SMS, ARD writes. In addition, due to the increasing number of Ukrainian drone attacks, Russia is also attracting reservists to guard energy infrastructure facilities, for example.
Ukraine also plans to limit mobile connections in the event of attacks
Due to the intensive Russian drone attacks, Ukraine is also planning restrictions on the mobile network. In September, the Chief of the General Staff, Andriy Khnatov, said that this concerns 4G and 5G communications, which allow for particularly fast data transfer, ARD reports. The aim is to prevent the modems used in the drones from gaining access to the Internet of Ukrainian mobile connection providers.