Massive Mobile Network Outage Hits Moscow Ahead of Russia''s Victory Day Parade

Moscow experienced widespread mobile network disruptions today as authorities restricted services ahead of the annual Victory Day parade on May 9. The move comes amid heightened fears of Ukrainian drone attacks, which have already led to a scaling back of the celebrations. Reuters reports that Russia has intensified internet controls this year, forcing millions of people to use VPNs. While the Kremlin stated the restrictions are necessary to ensure safety during the high-risk period, the measures have caused significant inconvenience for residents relying on mobile networks for payments, navigation, and communications. Six Reuters reporters in different parts of Moscow confirmed they could not access the internet on their phones, though voice calls still worked in many areas. Russian mobile operators and Sberbank have warned that network and messaging services may remain unstable over the coming days for security reasons.