Russia to Register Mobile Phones to Counter Drones

Russia is preparing to introduce a mandatory system for registering mobile devices using their unique IMEI identifiers.

Authorities say the measure is intended to help combat phone scams, illegal imports of electronics, and security threats linked to the use of drones, according to Novaya Gazeta.

An IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a 15-digit number that uniquely identifies a device such as a phone, tablet, or modem and allows mobile operators to recognize which specific device is connected to the network.

Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development plans to create a national database of mobile device IMEI numbers in 2026.

According to a deputy minister, the IMEI system would allow the state to distinguish an ordinary personal phone from a device used in a drone. This, he said, would make it possible to restrict mobile internet access only in areas where there is a real risk, instead of shutting it down for everyone.

Currently, when authorities temporarily disable mobile internet due to perceived drone threats, they rely on ‘whitelists’ – a set of websites approved by the Ministry of Digital Development that remain accessible during such shutdowns.

At the same time, a ‘cooling-off period’ applies to foreign SIM cards, as well as to SIM cards from Russian operators that are brought into the country from abroad.

Tighter oversight is also planned. Telecom operators will face increased responsibility for violations related to SIM card sales. Under the proposed rules, operators will be required to submit information about user devices – specifically, the IMEI numbers of devices connected to their networks – to a centralized database.

Russian SIM Cards

The authorities also intend to shut down the illegal circulation of electronic devices: online advertisements, listings, and links for purchasing phones whose IMEI has not received state approval are planned to be blocked.

According to the outlet’s sources, as early as 2027 Russians may be required to link a device’s IMEI to a subscriber’s phone number.

By 2028, only mobile phones with IMEI numbers registered in the national database will be allowed to operate in Russia.

A SIM card will be usable only in phones that have been ‘approved’ by the operator in advance and specified in the service contract.

Connectivity for Drones

Russia and Ukraine use mobile internet (LTE/4G) from the neighboring country, civilian modems, and ordinary smartphones as relays for drone attacks.

SIM cards in strike drones are used not ‘for calls,’ but as a cheap and widely available communication channel.

A mobile network has dozens of base stations and automatically switches a drone between towers, making it difficult to suppress using electronic warfare systems.

In Ukraine, to counter this, the counterintelligence units of the Security Service of Ukraine hunt down FSB agents who supply Russia with Ukrainian SIM cards for kamikaze drones.

In Russia, IMEI tracking is seen as an attempt to compensate for the lack of effective counter-drone measures by imposing stricter control over mobile networks.