Russia Tightens Grip on Internet, Edges Closer to Isolation

In the summer of 2025, Russia's efforts to tighten its grip on the internet have reached new heights. As of August 5th, the country is experiencing widespread disruptions, with YouTube videos failing to load, independent media websites producing only blank pages, and cellphone internet connections going down for hours or even days.

These are not mere network glitches, but rather a deliberate, multipronged, and long-term strategy by the Kremlin to bring the internet under its full control. Authorities have adopted restrictive laws, banned websites and platforms that refuse to comply, and perfected technology to monitor and manipulate online traffic.

While the use of virtual private network (VPN) apps can still circumvent some restrictions, these too are routinely blocked. The government has further restricted internet access this summer, with widespread shutdowns of cellphone internet connections and a new law punishing users for searching for content deemed "illicit."

Experts and rights advocates warn that the scale and effectiveness of these restrictions are alarming, with the Kremlin edging closer to isolating the internet in Russia. The country's "death by a thousand cuts" approach to reining in the internet has become increasingly sophisticated, leveraging years of perfecting the technology and taking over the architecture of the internet.

As the Kremlin tightens its grip, the future of the internet in Russia looks increasingly bleak, with the country's citizens facing a dystopian reality of complete state control over their online activities.