In recent weeks, Russia has faced considerable disruptions in mobile internet services, leaving residents in major cities grappling with the loss of essential digital functions such as navigation and mobile payment systems. The situation has been depicted in caricatures by Russian newspapers like Izvestija, illustrating how people are forced to revert to outdated methods, such as using paper maps, reminiscent of a time before modern technology.

Experts, including Steve Rosenberg from the BBC, have noted that the current circumstances highlight the potential for Russia to shift towards an internet model similar to those utilized in authoritarian regimes like China or Iran. State media and institutions have acknowledged this trend, suggesting that the mobile internet outages may be part of a broader strategy to control information and communication in preparation for possible future conflicts or civil unrest.

In a rather alarming recommendation, the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology has advised disconnected users to navigate using natural celestial bodies, such as finding the North Star with the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. This guidance underscores the dire state of connectivity in the country and indicates a significant societal impact as citizens are pressed to adapt to an increasingly authoritarian digital landscape.