Internet shutdowns in Russia have become more frequent in the wake of Ukrainian drone strikes.

According to Bloomberg, there were 654 intentional mobile data shutdowns across the country in June, which is nearly ten times the number reported in May. The figures are reportedly taken from Na Svyazi, an Iternet forum with a focus on technology. DCD was unable to independently verify these figures.

These are unusually high figures. According to Cloudflare's Q1 2025 Internet Disturbance Summary, there were zero government-directed shutdowns across the world in that period. The Q4 2024 report only notes one single government-directed shutdown - this took place in Mozambique - and the Q3 2024 report shows that there were a handful of shutdowns relating to protests and anti-cheating measures for national exams.

Drones rely on mobile signals in order to locate their target. Ukrainian drone strikes have become more frequent since the success of Operation Spiderweb, where drones smuggled into Russia were able to attack several air bases.

The strikes typically target factories or critical infrastructure. Three days ago, drones struck the Kupol Electromechanical Plant in the city of Izhevsk, which specializes in the manufacture of air defense systems and drones.

According to The Moscow Times, at least 30 regions in Russia’s southwest, northwest, and Siberian regions faced Internet disruptions in mid-June, impacting the functioning of various services. Disruptions became more common after restrictions imposed during the 80th Victory Day celebrations, which commemorate the Soviet victory in WWII.