# Russia's Internet Restrictions Jeopardize Civilian Safety Amid Drone Attacks **Russia's** growing restrictions on mobile internet and cellular service are making it increasingly difficult for citizens to receive timely warnings about incoming **Ukrainian** drone and missile attacks. In many instances, alerts are either severely delayed, arriving only after a strike, or fail to reach residents altogether. Russian authorities frequently restrict mobile internet during drone attacks, asserting that these shutdowns are necessary to prevent drones from utilizing cellular networks for navigation or targeting. However, digital rights experts and local reports indicate that these restrictions also disrupt **Telegram** warnings, emergency applications, and other crucial online alert systems. In some regions, the problem is exacerbated by authorities opting not to activate traditional air raid sirens, forcing residents to rely more heavily on digital warnings that become unavailable or delayed when internet access is restricted. **Sarkis Darbinyan**, a Russian cyberlawyer and expert at **RKS Global**, highlighted that warnings from **Russia’s** emergency services are typically disseminated through multiple channels, including SMS, push notifications, television, radio, sirens, loudspeakers, government websites, and official **Telegram** channels. However, during mobile internet shutdowns, many of these channels become unreliable or cease to function entirely. "People lose access to information and, as a result, are unable to make decisions that could help save themselves and their families during strikes," Darbinyan told Recorded Future News. ## Left Without Warning Recently, during parliamentary elections, authorities in the **Moscow** region reportedly did not activate air raid sirens or send SMS warnings during a significant **Ukrainian** drone and missile attack, even as mobile service was restricted. This information comes from the **Institute for the Study of War (ISW)**. "Russian authorities appear to have prioritized achieving a high voter turnout... over public safety," **ISW** stated. Similar issues have been documented across **Russia**. Last year, during a **Ukrainian** drone attack on the **Kupol** electrical and mechanical plant in **Izhevsk**, no air raid siren sounded prior to the strike, according to local media. Mobile internet disruptions also prevented residents from accessing warnings on **Telegram**. "The communications restrictions did not knock the drones off course. But the three people who were killed could have survived, and the 35 who were injured could have escaped unharmed, if they had been warned of the danger in time," the Russian digital rights project **Na Svyazi** noted at the time. In **Cheboksary** this month, residents reported losing not only mobile internet but also regular cellular service, with calls frequently disconnecting or failing to connect. This disruption also affected attack warnings, according to **Na Svyazi**, with some subscribers receiving no alerts while others received dozens of identical messages. Local telecom operators attributed these restrictions to security measures. The problems extend beyond mere internet shutdowns. An investigation by **Novaya Gazeta Europe** revealed that Russian authorities frequently fail to activate air raid sirens during attacks. The outlet estimated that at least 36 civilians were killed across **Russia** and Russian-occupied **Crimea** this past summer in strikes where sirens were not activated. In the **Moscow** region, strikes without sirens accounted for 68% of attack fatalities, according to their calculations. While Russian law mandates regional and municipal authorities to provide timely threat warnings, it does not explicitly require siren activation for every attack. Alternative warning methods, such as SMS messages, apps, television, or official government channels, are permitted but often prove unreliable. ## Unreliable Alternatives According to **Novaya Gazeta Europe**, users in seven Russian regions reported almost never receiving SMS alerts about attacks. In another 32 regions, respondents indicated that messages either did not arrive for every attack or were received only after a strike had already occurred. **Darbinyan** explained that SMS should generally be more resilient than internet-based warnings as it does not require mobile data. Conversely, push notifications, **Telegram** channels, government websites, and other online services are significantly more vulnerable when authorities restrict internet access. **Russia** has attempted to maintain access to certain approved services during shutdowns via a government whitelist. The **Emergency Situations Ministry** app and the state-backed **MAX** messaging app are included. However, Darbinyan noted that even their push notifications might not function correctly because the underlying notification system relies on **Google** infrastructure, which is not on the whitelist. Russian authorities argue that mobile internet restrictions can impede **Ukrainian** drone operations, as a drone equipped with a SIM card could use cellular networks for communication or enhanced navigation. However, Darbinyan countered that cellular networks are merely one of several technologies drones can employ, alongside satellite navigation and radio communications. "It certainly reduces the number of attacks to some extent, but it is not a panacea," he said. "Internet access has been shut down for two years now, and there have not been fewer drone attacks. On the contrary, their number has increased." The shutdowns have also become more widespread. As of Monday, 59 Russian regions had reported restrictions on mobile internet, according to local internet monitors. For residents, this creates a dangerous paradox, as highlighted by **Na Svyazi**: the "security measures" imposed due to approaching drones can result in people either not receiving danger alerts or receiving incorrect warnings. "Security means alerts working properly and people having access to communications," **Na Svyazi** emphasized.