Shutdowns may begin at 11:30 on October 27 and 28 and continue through the day, and from 9:30 on October 29, the ministry said. It attributed the restrictions to security for the Russia–Africa summit and a summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum.
The Gas Exporting Countries Forum meets on October 27; the Russia–Africa summit runs October 28 and 29. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said earlier that 22 African leaders would attend the Africa summit, while the presidents of Iran and Equatorial Guinea and the emir of Qatar would attend the gas forum.
According to the ministry, voice calls, home internet and Wi-Fi will keep working as normal. Services on a "white list" will also stay available, including government services, marketplaces, banks, major Russian social networks and the MAX messenger.
Mobile internet shutdowns have become widespread across Russian regions since spring 2025. Authorities have explained them as protection against Ukrainian drone attacks. The Digital Development Ministry began drawing up the "white list" in September 2025.
In March 2026, mobile internet worked intermittently in central Moscow for almost a week. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at the time that the restrictions would last "as long as necessary."