Internet shutdowns and card blocking: Russians are switching en masse to cash.

Internet shutdowns are recorded daily in more than 50 regions.

The volume of cash in circulation in Russia has increased sharply . Between July and September, it increased by 659 billion rubles, five times more than during the same period in 2024.

According to The Moscow Times , a more significant increase—by 1.1 trillion rubles—over the same months was recorded only during the first year of the full-scale war in Ukraine, amid an unstable economic situation.

“The Central Bank previously noted that Russians have begun withdrawing cash more frequently due to regular internet outages, which began in Moscow in May. Currently, internet shutdowns are being recorded daily in more than 50 regions,” the publication writes.

It was also noted that mobile internet service was shut down in the Ulyanovsk region until the end of the war.

“For many Russians, this became a signal that they needed to carry a certain amount of cash,” the publication quotes financier Olga Belenkaya.

Moreover, according to her, demand for cash has increased due to increased banking controls over suspicious transactions, which is leading to Russians having their transfers and cards blocked en masse.

Internet problems in Russia

Russia is shutting down mobile networks in dozens of regions to stop Ukrainian drone attacks, making Russians increasingly feel the effects of the war. Due to widespread internet outages, Russian regional authorities are expanding public Wi-Fi networks and publishing interactive maps of new hotspots in major cities.

According to The New York Times, Russia is stepping up efforts to restrict internet freedom . Russian authorities are clamping down on attempts by Russian citizens to use backdoors to access foreign services and banned content. Furthermore, Russia is obstructing the operation of services operated by American tech companies, such as YouTube.

(C)UNIAN 2025