Kremlin Says Regional Internet Shutdowns Needed for Security Against Ukraine

The Kremlin acknowledged on Thursday that authorities have temporarily restricted mobile internet access in some Russian regions, saying the measures are intended to safeguard the population against security threats it attributes to Ukraine. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters the disruptions are imposed "where necessary" and form part of broader efforts to protect critical infrastructure. He did not specify which areas are affected or how long the curbs will last, but said they will remain in place "as long as the threat persists." The statement is the first official confirmation of the rolling outages that residents in several provinces have reported in recent weeks, coinciding with intensified cross-border drone and artillery attacks Moscow blames on Kyiv. Ukraine has not commented on the Kremlin’s latest justification for the restrictions.