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ForbesRussia has broadened internet shutdowns and blocked messaging services since May 2025. State and independent polling recorded declines in President Vladimir Putin's approval rating between February and April 2026. Officials stated the measures aim to limit Ukrainian drone operati…
jurist.orgIran's near-total internet shutdown has now lasted 84 days, with international networks cut off for more than 1,992 hours. The blackout began within hours of the February 28 start of the war.
rte.ieRussian authorities have imposed internet controls similar to those in Iran, citing security concerns. A three-week internet shutdown in Moscow this year led residents to buy radios, pagers and paper maps while disrupting digital services. Many Russians fear further loss of acces…
Iran has experienced a near-total internet shutdown for more than 70 days in 2026, according to internet monitor Netblocks. The blackout has cost the economy an estimated $250 million a day, with broader impacts reaching as much as $3 billion daily when effects on banks and busin…
Unpredictable outages and curbs on messaging apps such as Telegram have created communication problems for Russian small businesses that rely on digital platforms for sales. The restrictions, which include limits on VPNs and periodic mobile internet shutdowns, have affected milli…
hrw.orgRussian authorities have started intermittent mobile internet shutdowns in Moscow and several other cities. Officials said the measure is intended to counter drone threats in the lead-up to the May 9 Victory Day parade. Al Jazeera’s Dmitry Medvedenko reported from Moscow on the d…
nypost.comIran has moved from a temporary internet shutdown to a permanent system of differentiated access reserved for select groups, following US-Israeli strikes on February 28, 2026. The vast majority of Iranians remain cut off from the global internet. A minority uses black-market VPNs…
techjuice.pkIranian authorities imposed an internet blackout at the start of the Middle East war, which has now lasted 50 days. The blackout continues to harm most Iranians' livelihoods and human rights, according to monitoring group NetBlocks. The measure was enacted without attribution to…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewThe Kremlin acknowledged disruptions caused by internet restrictions in Russia, stating they were necessary for security and would be lifted when safe. Moscow experienced a nearly three-week mobile internet shutdown in March 2026 amid concerns over Ukrainian drone attacks.
Al JazeeraIran has experienced a near-total internet blackout since late February, reducing connectivity to about 1% of pre-war levels, according to NetBlocks. This marks the longest nationwide shutdown imposed by a state in any country. The restrictions, combined with prior blackouts and…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewIran has experienced a nationwide internet shutdown, limiting access to less than 2% of the population, primarily through privileged 'white SIM cards.' An underground market for VPN configurations has surged, with prices ranging from 500,000 to 1 million tomans per gigabyte. User…