Imagine stepping outside on a regular Monday morning in Moscow, trying to send a text or check the news—only to find your phone has no signal.
That’s exactly what thousands of people experienced today, as mobile networks across the city went down without warning.
Thousands Report Problems Across Major Carriers
Users from all over Moscow started reporting issues with their mobile service early on May 5. Beeline, one of Russia’s biggest mobile operators, saw more than 2,000 complaints.
Tele2 wasn’t far behind, with over 1,500 reports.
Even MegaFon got hit with over 600 customer alerts.
Smaller networks also faced issues, leaving many frustrated and offline.
According to Sboy.RF, a platform that monitors outages in digital services, the disruptions mainly affected cellular and internet services in Moscow.
Many users said they were without mobile internet for over an hour.
Beeline Blames the Outage on External Factors
Beeline responded to the situation, telling Russian news agency TASS that the disruptions may be due to reasons outside the operators’ control.
In other words, the blackout wasn’t necessarily caused by technical failures on their end.
Victory Day Security Measures May Be Behind It
While there’s been no official confirmation, it looks like the outages may be tied to heightened security measures around the Victory Day celebrations coming up on May 9.
Local reports suggest that emergency civil defense protocols could have led to the network shutdowns, all in an effort to ensure public safety during the parade rehearsals and holiday events.
Victory Day Parade: A Powerful Tradition
The Victory Day Parade is one of Russia’s most significant national events.
Held annually in Moscow’s Red Square, it honors the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War.
The parade features the Russian Armed Forces and is attended by the President, who delivers a speech in his role as Supreme Commander.
More than just a military display, many Russians see the parade as a way to connect generations—honoring the past while acknowledging the present.
Parade commander Oleg Salyukov has described it as “a celebration for people,” rejecting the idea that it’s just a flex of military strength.
What to Expect Next
With May 9 just around the corner, Muscovites can probably expect more tight security—and possibly more service interruptions—as preparations for Victory Day continue.
If you’re in the city and planning to be out and about, don’t be surprised if your phone signal disappears again.
