Russians who are currently staying abroad are facing new digital restrictions, which limit their access to online platforms and electronic services.
Details
On April 24, the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine reported these developments. According to the agency, Russians now experience limited access to online services even when they are outside Russia. This includes government portals, banking apps, marketplaces, and booking services in countries such as Turkey, Egypt, and Thailand. Moreover, users encounter difficulties when trying to connect to hotel Wi-Fi networks. In addition, problems arise while using local mobile networks. As a result, many Russians abroad cannot fully access essential digital tools.
These restrictions appeared after new regulatory requirements were introduced for Russian online platforms. Specifically, these rules force companies to more actively counter services that help bypass blocking systems. Consequently, platforms must block foreign connections in order to avoid penalties from regulators. This happens because it is technically difficult to distinguish between “regular” foreign traffic and traffic that uses VPNs or similar tools.
Scale
This blocking trend is becoming more widespread, and its scale continues to grow. Russians abroad increasingly struggle to manage their travel plans and financial savings. Furthermore, state-imposed restrictions prevent them from accessing important information. In some cases, problems even occur during the process of booking tickets to return home.
The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine commented on the situation:
“The kremlin has taken such a liking to this digital “iron curtain” that it has decided to export it along with tourists, so that russians abroad do not relax and forget what “home-grown” restrictions on rights look like.”
Earlier, on March 31, the Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation reported that Russia is introducing new limitations on the use of VPN services. In particular, the Kremlin is implementing financial restrictions related to these services. Therefore, free access to the internet may become unavailable for many Russian citizens.
Additionally, starting from April 1, mobile operators were required to disable the option of topping up Apple ID balances via mobile accounts. At the same time, platforms included in a so-called “whitelist” will only function without internet access if they completely block users who rely on VPN services.
Previously, The Ukrainian Review also reported that Russia’s oil industry has faced export difficulties due to frequent Ukrainian drone attacks. As a result, Russia is expected to stop supplying oil from Kazakhstan to Germany.
