Moscow has banned the publication of images showing the aftermath of drone strikes

Moscow has imposed an official ban on the dissemination of any information regarding the consequences of drone attacks and other incidents that the authorities classify as “terrorist attacks” until such time as they are officially confirmed. 

According to the new order, the media, emergency services, and ordinary citizens are prohibited from disseminating information about events in the city until such information appears on the websites of the Russian Ministry of Defense, the mayor’s office, or on Mayor Sergei Sobyanin’s personal social media channels. The official justification for these restrictions is the “fight against fake news” and ensuring public safety.

Violations of the ban are subject to fines. This move effectively imposes full censorship on the immediate coverage of incidents in the Russian capital, allowing the authorities to completely control the flow of information about the actual consequences of the attacks.

The Russian State Duma approved amendments in the second reading to introduce administrative penalties for transferring subscriber numbers and login credentials for personal accounts to other individuals.

The Russian authorities have made it more difficult for Western companies to leave the aggressor country by banning the withdrawal of assets in dollars and euros. De facto, Russia has introduced capital controls.