Officials in Vladivostok warn of phone and internet service disruptions when Putin arrives next month for Russia’s Eastern Economic Forum

Authorities in Russia’s Primorsky Krai have cautioned residents and visitors that communication services, including phone and internet, could be disrupted during the upcoming Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. The forum is scheduled to take place from September 1 to 4, and the disruptions will impact both mobile and landline services.

According to the regional administration, the temporary communication restrictions are expected near the main forum venue, the Far Eastern Federal University campus, as well as on the primary roads leading to the location. The Digital Development Ministry of the region stated that these shutdowns will be confined to specific areas, rather than the entire region.

The forum’s organizers had previously announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin would attend the event. It is not uncommon for regional authorities in Russia to halt internet access under the guise of protecting against Ukrainian drone strikes, with such shutdowns also occurring during international gatherings in Russia, such as the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

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