After Strikes on Radars in Crimea, Invaders Announce Long-Term Mobile Internet Disconnection

Occupied Crimea is preparing for a long-term mobile Internet outage due to the destruction of radar stations and other important facilities.

On Monday, August 11, the occupation authorities announced a possible long-term shutdown of the mobile Internet due to attacks on Russian facilities in Crimea.

“In order to counter enemy attacks and ensure the safety of citizens in Crimea, mobile Internet may be disconnected for a long period,” the occupation administration said.

They clarified that cellular communication and cable Internet providers will work as usual.

At the same time, the self-proclaimed “government” of Crimea said that mobile Internet would be cut off randomly – for several hours or even days – allegedly to protect against drone attacks.

According to them, similar measures are already being taken in more than 60 regions of Russia.

“To connect to the Internet, it is recommended to use city, office and home lines, as well as Wi-Fi (except for anonymous networks). Voice and SMS communications will continue to work stably via regular cellular channels,” the statement said.

It is also noted that temporary mobile Internet outages in Russia have become regular in recent months.

In July alone, residents of different regions of the Russian Federation faced such restrictions at least 2,099 times, which was the highest figure for the entire period of observation, according to the online project “On the Connection”, which collects user complaints and checks them with technical means.

According to the project, from January to April, only isolated cases of outages were recorded. In May, when the Russian authorities began regularly jamming mobile networks, the number of complaints increased to 69. In June, there was a sharp jump to 662 cases. And in July, the figure exceeded the June value three times.

Damage to the radars

Ukrainian forces have destroyed a stationary tracking radar complex TRLK-10 “Skala-M” in the temporarily occupied Crimea.

The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine hit radar stations located in protective domes on the top of Ai-Petri.

Ukrainian observers also found out that a drone of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine hit a Russian radar from the latest S-500 air defense system in temporarily occupied Crimea.