Recently, more than half of internet connections in St. Petersburg…
Recently, more than half of internet connections in St. Petersburg have gone through 'whitelists.' In July, only 30.5% of user sessions in mobile networks of the Central Federal District passed without restrictions.
Consensus
- In July 2026, over 60% of mobile internet sessions in the Central Federal District of Russia occurred under 'white list' restrictions.
- The restriction mode allowed access only to websites and apps listed in the 'white list' approved by the Ministry of Digital Development.
- The data on mobile internet sessions were collected by Vigo, a developer of network monitoring and management tools.
- The analysis was based on approximately one billion user sessions.
- In border regions with Ukraine—specifically Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod Oblasts—over 90% of sessions were restricted to the 'white list'.
- In Moscow and Moscow Oblast, the share of unrestricted sessions was around 49%.
- In Saint Petersburg, the share of unrestricted sessions was 43.9%.
- In Leningrad Oblast, the share of unrestricted sessions was 58.9%.
- The number of sessions under 'white list' restrictions increased by 31% from January to July 2026.
- Operators are adjusting their tariff plans due to the restrictions.
- Users are increasingly switching mobile operators in response to the restrictions.
Points of divergence
- In Saint Petersburg, 56.1% of internet sessions were restricted, contradicting other sources that report 43.9% unrestricted sessions (i.e., 56.1% restricted). — tg_moscowtimes_ru
- In Leningrad Oblast, 41.1% of sessions were restricted, which contradicts the 58.9% unrestricted sessions reported by other sources. — tg_moscowtimes_ru
- In Leningrad Oblast, unrestricted sessions were at 58.9%, which contradicts the 41.1% restricted figure reported by Moscow Times. — gazeta_spb
- In Saint Petersburg, 44% of sessions were unrestricted, which is slightly different from the 43.9% reported by other sources. — tg_chertamedia
- The restrictions are linked to Ukrainian military strikes on storage facilities and oil refineries, and to the upcoming September elections, which is not stated in other sources. — meduza
Coverage (7 sources)
- More than 60% of mobile internet traffic in Central Russia was limited - Gazeta SPB RU - news from Saint Petersburg — Gazeta.SPb
- Mobile internet in Russia is increasingly working only on white lists. Tell us how often such restriction modes are introduced where you live — Meduza
- In recent times more than half of internet connections in St. Petersburg went through 'white lists' — 'Kommersant' — Бумага
- In July, 70% of mobile internet connections in Central Russia passed through 'white lists' — Черта
- In Central Russia, two-thirds of mobile internet exits are restricted by 'whitelists' — The Moscow Times
- «Kommersant»: in central Russia only one-third of mobile sessions proceed without restrictions. In border regions almost 90% of connections go through «white lists» — Meduza
- More than 60% of mobile internet sessions in the first half of the year were conducted with restrictions — Коммерсантъ
Key entities
- Central Russia
- Commerzant
- Vigo
- Central Federal District
- Russia
- Saint Petersburg
- Ukrainian Armed Forces
- Ministry of Digital Development
- NPZ
- SPB RU News Newspaper