Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the government and the Federal Security Service, or FSB, to ensure that critical online services remain available when mobile internet access is restricted.
Putin directed Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov to ensure access to key medical, information, and payment services during periods when mobile internet service is limited.
Kremlin order focuses on essential services
The order was included in a list of directives published by the Kremlin.
Reuters reported that Putin ordered the government and the FSB to ensure the uninterrupted operation of the most important services during periods of limited operation of the Internet.
The Moscow Times said the directive specifically covers healthcare platforms, the Gosuslugi government services portal, and electronic payment networks.
The order suggests that Moscow expects mobile internet restrictions to continue but wants certain public services to remain usable even when broader access is blocked or slowed.
Mishustin and Bortnikov must report by July 1
The Kremlin gave Russia’s top government and security officials a deadline.
Mishustin and Bortnikov were told to report back to Putin by July 1 on their progress. The prime minister and FSB chief must submit progress reports by the same date.
That deadline gives the order an operational timeline, not just a general policy direction. It also places responsibility directly on both civilian government leadership and Russia’s main domestic security service.
Mobile internet shutdowns have intensified
The directive comes after Russia has increasingly limited mobile internet access.
Russia has sometimes shut down mobile internet services this year and cracked down on foreign messenger apps, forcing millions of people to use VPNs. Online restrictions have become common since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and have intensified in recent months.
Monitoring groups report that dozens of Russian regions now face daily internet disruptions. That makes the order significant for ordinary users who may need access to payments, state services, or health platforms during outages.
Putin frames shutdowns as security measures
Putin has defended internet disruption as a security tool.
Putin has described disruption to internet and communications networks as a painful but sometimes necessary measure to prevent terrorist and Ukrainian drone attacks. Putin first addressed the country’s internet blackouts during an April cabinet session, defending them as a security defense against terrorist attacks.
The tension is clear: the Kremlin wants to use network restrictions for security, but it also needs citizens to keep access to basic digital services that now support daily life.
Russia’s “white list” expands
The order also appears linked to Russia’s “white list” approach for online services.
Putin previously ordered the Digital Development Ministry and security services to cooperate on keeping a “white list” of online services running during outages. The list reportedly includes the government-backed messenger Max, state news agencies, and major banks.
The Kremlin called Putin’s latest directive an “ongoing refinement and expansion” of the white list.
Shutdowns become part of Russia’s digital control system
The order shows how Russia is trying to manage a difficult balance between security controls and digital dependence.
Mobile internet shutdowns can limit communication, information access, and messaging apps, but they can also disrupt payments, healthcare services, and government portals. By ordering key services to stay online during restrictions, Putin is effectively formalizing a two-tier internet system: some services remain available, while broader access may be limited.
For Russian citizens, the practical question is whether critical services will actually work during shutdowns. For the government, the order signals that mobile internet restrictions are no longer treated as temporary disruptions, but as a recurring part of Russia’s security and digital governance strategy.
