Russia disrupted the Internet in several areas of the country in an apparent attempt at so-called “sovereign Internet” infrastructure.

Internet access was reportedly restricted even when using a VPN. However, it is unclear if or how the best VPNs were affected.

According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a U.S. non-profit organization, affected areas include Dagestan, Chechnya, and Ingushetia. All of these are predominantly Muslim regions with a history of instability.

People in Dagestan were unable to access foreign websites and applications and had problems accessing WhatsApp and Telegram.

Users in the Chechen Republic and Republic of Ingushetia also reported problems accessing foreign websites and some domestic websites, as well as online services including YouTube, Google, and Russian Internet giant Yandex. There were All of these were inaccessible even when using a VPN.

Internet monitoring group NetBlocks highlighted the disruption and restoration of connections in Dagestan, and the incident lasted about 24 hours.

Roskomnadzor, Russia's Internet and media regulator, conducted tests in the Republic of Dagestan on December 6-7 and confirmed that it had stripped residents' access to foreign websites and applications.

The regulator said the test was to ensure that “critical alternative infrastructure” would work if Russia were intentionally cut off from the global Internet.

However, many argue that this is the latest step in Russia's attempt to detach itself from the global Internet and build its own “sovereign Internet.” According to Russia's Forbes, the Kremlin has invested about 59 billion rubles ($648 million) in developing technological infrastructure that can limit Internet traffic.

It is also trying to draw Russians away from Western social media platforms and toward more controllable domestic platforms.

Telegram and WhatsApp are both examples of encrypted messaging services, popular choices for those who need more online privacy. Given the disturbing history of the areas targeted by Russia, it is not surprising that these apps have been restricted. It appears to be an attempt to curb further protests against the Kremlin.

This is not the first time such apps have been restricted; in November, the Pakistani government apparently restricted WhatsApp in advance of protests by opposition parties. Users reported that they had difficulty sending and receiving messages and voice notes, and that the disruption lasted for several days.

This was the latest in a number of moves by the Pakistani government to restrict Internet freedom; Bluesky became a banned social media along with X and attempted to restrict VPN use, which the government later withdrew.

With this latest development, Russia continues to isolate itself and its citizens from the rest of the world. Thanks to this restriction, YouTube was the last Western social media platform available to Russians. However, many Western tech giants, including Apple, Microsoft, and Google, have voluntarily suspended or restricted their services in Russia due to the ongoing war with Ukraine.

For now, Russians can access the Internet without any restrictions by using one of the best Russian VPNs; VyprVPN is currently our top choice, and its chameleon protocol bypasses deep packet inspection, censorship help navigate firewalls; VyprVPN currently has over 700 servers worldwide, including in Russia.

Despite this, the future of Internet use in Russia remains uncertain, and the risk of further restrictions remains very real.