Russia to shut down mobile internet in Crimea on New Year's Eve
Illustrative photo: mobile internet will be shut off in Crimea on New Year's Eve (Getty Images)
In temporarily occupied Crimea, Russian authorities plan to shut off mobile internet services overnight from December 31 to January 1, citing "security concerns" as the reason, according to the Crimea Realities Telegram channel.
Oleg Kryuchkov, an advisor to the head of the Crimean administration, stated that these measures are aimed at ensuring safety on the peninsula.
"Mobile internet may be shut off at any time, not just at night. However, cellular services such as calls and SMS will remain operational," Kryuchkov said.
Meanwhile, all cable internet providers on the peninsula will continue to operate normally, meaning home, office, city connections, and Wi-Fi will still be available, according to the report.
Occupation of Crimea
Russia's occupation of Crimea began in February 2014 with the seizure of key facilities on the peninsula. Under military pressure, Moscow conducted an illegal referendum on March 16, which Ukraine and the international community did not recognize, declaring the annexation and violating international law.
The occupation has led to repression against Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars, human rights violations, and militarization of the region. Russia has transformed Crimea into a military base and is altering the demographic composition by relocating its own citizens.
Previously, it was reported that mobile internet would be shut off in temporarily occupied Crimea. However, specific dates for these shutdowns were not provided at the time.
