# Two phones and an app: How Russians skirt Putin's digital iron curtain

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-06-13 17:07 UTC · Category: World

## Executive Summary
Russian internet users are bypassing increasing state-imposed digital restrictions by employing secondary devices and specialized applications.

## Intelligence Brief
Russian intelligence services are actively blocking access to various internet services and applications. This effort to limit connectivity has led users to adopt alternative methods, including the use of multiple phones, to circumvent state-imposed access barriers.


Coverage from outlets including Reuters, the Financial Times, and the BBC highlights the development of a digital “iron curtain” within the country. Reports from The Irish Times and Meduza emphasize the practical impact on users and the ongoing attempts to maintain communication via platforms like Telegram, despite reported blocks.


Observers are looking to see how users continue to navigate these technological obstacles. Coverage does not yet specify if further measures will be implemented by the FSB or how existing circumvention strategies will evolve in response to ongoing infrastructure changes.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| The Independent | Russians are finding ways to skirt Putin’s digital iron curtain – one phone at a time | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimwFBVV95cUxNYUN1aTVFUnV2cEJwWnF0SUUzdFVYTkRtSFJXWEJaNnpqcV9MTlZneWVMY3FSU3NDSzBJS3U2RGpmWGdRSFRYVWhRTHFNSnU0QkdYQXJBTmhQdG1XOXZPWkxiYTNzMHo4c25PTVdYbUlBcnh4OHo3QXdMbkI4cWVWRXRBbVRTUGpxT245bmFCNjEtUXhDTVlvcDN5VQ?oc=5) |
| The Irish Times | ‘Nothing works’: Russians react as intelligence services shut down the internet | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixwFBVV95cUxPdzNyUjNxdmtwTy0yQXY3NzFJQlpfNzUteG9OM2VuRGxOZmxhbGFiOHNsQlg1ZU9jQnNjdGkxOHRmWk9EckZWYk5ON2lWd09PcVB1Z0E0ZmVVZmFmSm9QbGRCNEI1Z21SWmdGU3RCTEtland1YUM3RzJwb0U3UnpzQVVaX1RkVTh0NXYyaU12Z1g2Q0tmUkptR21xVERzRzl5MUhpZzhJS05CWUFIaWFfOUJoTVZSc0s4Y2JQMXVnejVGY0JsYjRF?oc=5) |
| uatv.ua | Russia Continues to Build a Digital “Iron Curtain” — CCD | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMifEFVX3lxTE96RDBuYjJsaGUxZThSVkotTXBNWTFhZ1RXLWs3bUtSRDFxN095b2ozYV8tOWt3NlVVRUJaOFYwcmVXaWdrRnpYVGJuM1RrblZscEwteDFYb2VzdVkxUzR1aGpnUlVNeldiR09mTUE0MnhQUGtMZi1BcEVYTjE?oc=5) |
| Brussels Morning Newspaper | Russian Technology Users: 7 Powerful Digital Trends | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMia0FVX3lxTE9mRGtzdWViS044eTJlTzFVTGY3Nkd3bE41Vnk0QnhmV05JYkJvNE5xNjAySjBTZVZfNlVKdENPSXJwbW83dUxNTXdFenU0SS1KbUhlMVVuNmg2QlVpWElTX3Y2eEwxYm0tV2Nn?oc=5) |
| BBC | Why is Russia cutting the internet and blocking apps? | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiUEFVX3lxTE9wQ29PNEd2Q0h3dTlaQm1ZQnE4ajQ3cFJ3SDZIMGktbDhxeE5VWDJia0YzTDZ1c1FoZ2JKbUpvY1FmMUN0OGcydktBOFpIRFdx?oc=5) |
| Meduza | Russia has been blocking Telegram for months. Meduza asked five popular channel admins if it’s working. | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi2AFBVV95cUxON0JWdFpxZm90R0JncHNUeUFOYWo4SUdYWXdKZDNhck96cUZzUWlWd3RtRGdXT1BpVGZZSnRwXzNEd2VYeVJ1bEtJOTlURG00OWdrSzA0dzVSQzFSaVhQVzBYdXBZLUtrVG1uMExJczA2aGg2eEJRSXFya3pXNVpZdmFGSFFrcnpvYzBMRjlBTWtJSHFmMVFqb25lVlpUbV81TmFOYTVETGlkZ0RqRGI2WXZfN2JmQXF3a0hSWU9ERVVCTlI1NFNjbU50VGxBblpWSWhjY0lESWHSAd4BQVVfeXFMUHFUVWVKVGhYRlVKYWpiTi1KZ3BFb1ZseFNYQ3UzWjJHRzdJLXI2U0JoUmp3TWFJd0RMVHhPd2l6V0xJTGN0YS0zcGZwWThCcjVVSXlRRXpGSk9IWEx2YWRkRjZFdGVuRVdtQTMzZmxKOTFzX25SQ2dRSFJ) |
| The New York Times | Opinion - In Russia, Rage Is Boiling Over | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihAFBVV95cUxQX1BNWkdLeW5YVDE0d0VHZXBBcHlBaDhnYVlaNE5YR0IwOEFHWkl0UDhtUlBKWHEwY3lMc1BnYi1BR0RtalZ3OWpSeTY0dTNmRDFJRTFsMjBMSUZ4WFJGdFBQWmNNQzNSU3dFd1h1ZzdpNmgxMXFpTVczNEk3UWtWYzBnX28?oc=5) |
| Financial Times | How the FSB cut Russia off from the internet | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihAFBVV95cUxNcm93YmZSRFd2TWRNbHl4bGsxM29iNk9FUTBPZEhKdUE4WVZRX0JMS0M1SmEtUExlc2hMNldvQnE1d0FlZnN2bzVDUmZnQS1WeWVzOXYxalBPVXhqd1VwelpCOThibmM5YzhkVFBlRkp2ampoX1d5cUd0WE1IaEFoY0U5TmU?oc=5) |
| Reuters | Two phones and an app: How Russians skirt Putin's digital iron curtain | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiswFBVV95cUxQYWdNV2llbng5ZTVuSW5BVHZzU2Rub01nNjQ5WmpZTXU4UGd4RXlrNjVTNFN6dy1Mb1E5aXAwdElBV1QzV3Q2Z1dTQU9mRVJrLWVJVjhpNFZwNzFFUF91OHJJRThBUDdzTUxvRUVKVEpSTDdOSU1BNno2b19BMkh2N0dCX0NsWUdFdnJpdVFCcmlYcTB5ZGxGQ1FHY0RLZWlHT2pfbXotaG8yT1l6RHh0TGE5UQ?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-06-13/two-phones-and-an-app-how-russians-skirt-putin-s-digital-iron-curtain*