Russia Rolls Out Resilient Local Apps Amid Internet Blackouts
Russia has unveiled a list of locally developed apps—including social media, ride-hailing platforms, and other services—that will remain operational even during mobile internet shutdowns. The country’s Ministry of Digital Development stated that a “special technical solution” will be used to keep these apps functional, minimizing inconvenience for citizens, according to Reuters.
Although no reference was made to Ukraine or drone strikes, governors in border regions have frequently reported that such blackouts are primarily enforced to prevent Ukrainian drone attacks.
The list includes government online services, marketplaces, the state payment system Mir, and the state-backed messenger app Maks. However, foreign platforms such as Meta’s WhatsApp or Google’s YouTube are excluded, despite their massive popularity—WhatsApp had 97.6 million users in Russia as of July, while YouTube remains among the most widely used platforms.
Maks, developed by state-controlled tech firm VK, now comes pre-installed on all new mobile phones and tablets across Russia and has reportedly reached 30 million users. Analysts suggest the move reflects Moscow’s broader strategy to expand domestic internet services while tightening control over foreign technologies.
