Mobile internet in occupied Crimea to be turned off to 'ensure security'
Illustrative photo: Mobile internet will be turned off in Crimea for security reasons (Getty Images)
In temporarily occupied Crimea, Russia will be shutting down mobile internet. This is allegedly related to "ensuring security" on the peninsula, according to the Krym.Realii Telegram channel.
The announcement about the new measure was made by the occupying Ministry of Internal Policy, Information, and Communications of Crimea.
"To ensure the safety of the residents of Crimea, mobile internet may be disconnected starting today," the ministry stated.
It is worth noting that the reasons for the disconnections and their schedule were not provided. However, the internet shutdowns are set to begin on December 17.
Advisor to the Russian head of Crimea, Oleg Kryuchkov, added that the mobile internet may be disconnected at any time, not just during the night.
Occupation of Crimea
The occupation of Crimea by Russia began in February 2014, when Russian troops seized key facilities on the peninsula, including administrative buildings and military units. Under pressure from armed forces and in the conditions of an information blockade, Russia organized an illegal "referendum" on March 16, 2014, which is not recognized by Ukraine or the international community. Following the results of this sham referendum, the Kremlin announced the annexation of Crimea, which was a blatant violation of international law, including the Budapest Memorandum and the UN Charter.
The occupation led to systematic repression against Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars on the peninsula, numerous human rights violations, and the militarization of the region.
Russia transformed Crimea into a military base, threatening the security of the Black Sea region, and is actively resettling its own citizens to the occupied territory, altering the demographic composition of the population.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that on October 8, 2022, a truck was blown up on the Crimean Bridge. In addition to the explosion, a powerful fire also occurred.
In July 2023, there was another attack on the Crimean Bridge, which destroyed two spans. The head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Maliuk, also confirmed the involvement of the service in this attack and noted that it was organized with the help of Sea Baby drones.
