In the occupied parts of Ukraine, in the South and in the East, Russia has taken control of the Internet. According Wiredinternet traffic has been going for a few days by a Russian supplier. Moscow will be able to set up its powerful censorship machine.
Vladimir Putin took over the Ukrainian Internet
Since May 30, 2022, residents of the city of Kherson in southern Ukraine have faced constant internet disruptions. Access providers were being forced to route their connections over Russian infrastructure.
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By doing this they expose Ukrainian users to Moscow’s vast network of surveillance and censorship. Internet service providers had no choice. According to many experts, taking control of the servers and cables that allow Ukrainians free access to the web is one of the first steps in the “russification” occupied areas.
According to Victor Zohora, Deputy Director of the Ukrainian Cybersecurity Agency (SSSCIP), “We observe that this is a flagrant violation of human rights since all traffic will be controlled and monitored by Russian special services. The Russian invaders will also limit access to sources and information that share real information.”.
All traffic from KhersonTelecom (the main operator in the region) is now routed by Miranda Mediaa Crimean-based company, itself linked to Russian national telecommunications provider Rostelecom.
Most cities occupied by Russian troops are affected
Most of the occupied regions of Ukraine are concerned: Kherson, Luhansk, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia. There are cases of massive routing of traffic from Ukrainian operators through Russian channels. Ukrainian networks are partially blocked or completely disconnected.
According to Doug Madory, Director of Internet Analytics at Kentik, “This is not a one-off phenomenon. Every two days, a new supplier goes under the Russian flag”. The disruption of web infrastructures has been a tactic used since the start of Putin’s war on February 24, 2022. In certain regions of the country, Ukrainians can nevertheless count on the power of the Starlink network.
Indeed, Elon Musk’s Internet network has become a veritable lifeline for the country, both on the battlefield and in the war for public opinion. Thanks to Starlink satellites, the Ukrainian army continues to provide good quality communications and civilians still have access to news from around the world.