Mobile internet cut across St. Petersburg as economic forum opens
REUTERS/Stringer
Mobile internet went down across St.
Petersburg on the opening day of the St. Petersburg International Economic
Forum, according to local social media channels.
Residents reported that websites and mobile apps were inaccessible and that service instability affected even sites on so-called white lists. Complaints about network interruptions grew by the hour.
Residents said they expected full service to be unavailable for at least three days because Russian dictator Vladimir Putin was due to attend the forum on June 5. Commenting on the developments, Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) said the city was effectively being disconnected for the Kremlin leader’s security during the event.
The CCD added that the Kremlin has long poured resources
into the forum to create an image of a successful, stable Russia with an
attractive investment climate for foreign delegations. It said foreign guests
were instead being forced to confront the reality of a country directly facing
the consequences of its war against Ukraine.
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