Russians are poking fun at Vladimir Putin on social media as internet services were abruptly shut down in major cities, prompting residents to repurpose their devices for unconventional uses like table tennis paddles and vegetable cutting tools.
In Moscow and St Petersburg, locals found themselves disconnected as internet outages disrupted communication channels, forcing them to resort to traditional methods such as walkie-talkies, pagers, and paper maps. Amusing videos circulating online depict Muscovites creatively repurposing their smartphones for unrelated tasks.
A comedian named Andrei Kaygorodov uploaded a video on Instagram showcasing inventive ways to utilize mobile phones during the internet blackout in Moscow. The video humorously illustrates using a smartphone as a makeshift table tennis racket and a cutting tool for vegetables. Another clip titled “Residents’ Reaction to Internet Restoration in Moscow” captures the celebration with a Champagne bottle popping.
Moscow-24 reported a surge in demand for printed atlases, travel guides, and alternative communication devices due to the ongoing cellphone service disruption affecting residents.
Recent developments suggest that Vladimir Putin has enforced a mobile internet blackout in Moscow for nearly two weeks over concerns of potential security breaches within his extensive surveillance network.
Reports indicate that the Russian president is wary of a purported conspiracy involving followers of Sergei Shoigu, a senior security council official, leading to the internet shutdown in central Moscow, particularly around sensitive security and military installations implicated in the alleged plot against Putin.
A television channel with ties to the secret services aired an unverified claim suggesting Shoigu’s faction was orchestrating a coup. Shoigu, formerly the defense minister overseeing operations in Ukraine, was relieved of his duties in May 2024 and reassigned as the secretary of the Kremlin’s security council.
The channel stated, “The Kremlin is concerned about a possible coup attempt by Sergei Shoigu’s group,” acknowledging the speculative nature of the allegations while highlighting communication disruptions within law enforcement premises and residences.
Similar incidents occurred during a failed coup orchestrated by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a former ally of Putin, in June 2023.
Nationwide, citizens have been experiencing intermittent mobile internet blackouts, with over 11,900 reported outages in the past seven months, according to data from the Na Svyazi project.
The Kremlin recently justified the disruptions across Moscow and other urban centers as necessary security measures.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized that all communication restrictions comply with existing laws and are essential for ensuring security. He clarified that the actions were taken to safeguard public safety.
In February, Putin reportedly signed a controversial law granting the FSB authority to block electronic communications for security reasons without detailed explanations.
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