Russia Limits Internet in Border Regions to Thwart Ukrainian Drone Strikes

Russian authorities have begun throttling mobile internet speeds at night in an effort to prevent Ukrainian drone attacks, according to a report by Kommersant newspaper.

The newspaper cited a written response from the Ministry of Digital Development of the Rostov region, confirming the slowdown of internet speeds in Rostov-on-Don and nine surrounding districts.

The ministry said the measure had been taken “to ensure the safety of the residents of the Rostov region.”

A representative of a telecommunications provider said internet speeds were limited to 512 kbit/s nightly or upon request from law enforcement agencies.

The restrictions began in December 2024, following earlier discussions by the regional crisis headquarters to shut down mobile internet services entirely between midnight and 5 a.m.

“This [throttling] allows telecommunication networks to remain operational, maintaining communication services for residents and industrial infrastructure, while reducing the risk of the networks being used in UAV attacks,” a source familiar with the policy told the newspaper.

Mobile internet networks can be used as an alternative communication channel for drones, enabling the operators to monitor flight status and coordinate movements remotely.

In late 2023, Militarnyi reported that Russian Shahed-136 drones had used Ukraine’s mobile network to coordinate attacks. Modified versions of the drones were reportedly equipped with makeshift modules using routers connected to the Ukrainian mobile networks.

The devices transmitted the drone’s location during flight. If the signal stopped, the drone would disappear from the map, indicating it had been downed and marking the area as potentially hazardous for further missions.

High-speed connections can also allow drones to stream real-time video from onboard cameras, enabling manual control by the operators.

Modernized Ukrainian light aircraft converted into drone bombers have been observed with optical stations onboard.

These aircraft have been used to strike industrial targets deep inside Russian territory.

In one such case in January, a converted drone dropped a 250-kilogram bomb on a Russian oil pipeline in the Bryansk region.