This move, reported by both European and Russian news outlets, particularly affected areas such as Dagestan, Chechnya, and Ingushetia, which have majority-Muslim populations.

Residents in these regions were unable to access popular platforms like Google, YouTube, and WhatsApp, even when attempting to use VPNs.

According to the Russian digital rights organization Roskomsvoboda, most VPN services failed to function during the shutdown, although some managed to remain operational.

This incident is part of Russia’s ongoing efforts to develop a “sovereign internet” that can be tightly controlled by the government.

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The country has invested approximately $648 million into its national internet infrastructure and has been gradually implementing these restrictions since at least 2019.

This latest development follows previous instances where Russia tested its internet censorship capabilities, including throttling access to platforms like YouTube.

The Russian government has also been increasingly blocking VPN services, with at least 197 currently restricted in the country.

Experts warn that these actions contribute to a growing trend towards internet fragmentation, mirroring censorship practices seen in other countries like China.

As the situation evolves, it remains unclear how these restrictions will impact internet access and freedom in Russia, as well as the effectiveness of VPNs in circumventing government controls.