Russians' anxiety levels over internet restrictions have surpassed those seen during the pandemic and mobilization
The level of public anxiety in Russia regarding restrictions on internet access has reached its highest point among all current fears, surpassing even the levels seen during the COVID-19 pandemic and the announcement of mobilization following the start of the war against Ukraine.
This is evidenced by data from the “National Anxiety Index” study conducted by the KROS company.
The report notes that the blocking of messaging apps, restrictions on mobile communications, and the crackdown on VPN services became the main source of concern for Russians in the first quarter of 2026. Based on the total index (1,735.31), this issue exceeded the level of other social anxieties by more than five times.
Researchers explain that the rise in tension is linked to the fact that restrictions have begun to directly impact citizens’ daily lives—from access to familiar online services to paying for utilities and communicating with loved ones.
The KROS company notes that internet outages and blockages have affected broad segments of the population and caused not only information restrictions but also difficulties in work and business processes.
“Internet outages have affected the broadest possible segments of society, for whom they have led not only to a reduction in sources of information but also to disruptions in their normal daily lives and business processes. People are alarmed because they do not understand what rules will govern life going forward,” the study’s findings state.
In Russia, regular mobile internet outages significantly complicate the work of medical professionals. More than half of doctors (54%) stated that communication disruptions seriously affect their work.
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