Russia-Ukraine War: How Ukrainian Drone Strikes Forced Kremlin to Use Internet Shutdowns as Weapon

The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has once again drawn global attention. The Kremlin, the official residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has announced that in order to ensure the safety of civilians from Ukrainian drone attacks, mobile internet has been temporarily shut down in some regions.

According to a report by global news agency, the Kremlin said on Thursday, “It is appropriate to shut down mobile internet from time to time to ensure people's safety from threats originating from Ukraine.”

The Fury of Ukrainian Drone Attacks

Russian officials reported that Ukrainian drones attacked 11 different regions of Russia on Wednesday night, damaging several residential buildings and injuring civilians. Airports were also targeted in these attacks. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that its air defense systems shot down 122 drones across the country and near Crimea. The highest numbers were intercepted in Bryansk (43 drones) and Kursk (38 drones).

In the city of Voronezh, debris from a drone damaged a residential building, resulting in injuries to three children. Two boys born in 2009 and 2013 sustained head injuries and were hospitalized, while a girl born in 2009 suffered injuries to her hands and legs and was treated on the spot.

Tragic Incident in Belgorod

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Belgorod region, reported that a drone dropped explosives on a private house in the village of Morodino, resulting in the death of a woman. Meanwhile, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin stated that air defense forces shot down three drones heading toward the capital, and no casualties or damage were reported.

The Kremlin's Strategy

This step by the Kremlin comes in response to the growing threat of Ukrainian drone attacks. Russia claims that the decision to cut internet access is necessary for civilian protection, as drone strikes can affect communication networks. Meanwhile, the tension between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate, with both nations' citizens bearing the consequences.