Internet connectivity on mobile devices disrupted in Krasnoyarsk and various other cities
In a move aimed at protecting consumers, Russia's General Prosecutor Igor Krasnov ordered an investigation into increased taxi prices that occurred during mobile and internet connectivity issues in July 2025. The widespread disruptions affected the functioning of taxi and ride-sharing apps, causing services to malfunction and prices to rise.
The mobile internet outage, which affected all operators in cities across Russia on July 26th, 2025, was a deliberate measure implemented due to heightened security concerns linked to ongoing Ukrainian drone attacks and other regional security issues. The disruptions to cellphone internet links led to card payments not going through and apps used by taxis and ride-sharing services failing to operate properly.
This investigation will cover the actions of taxi aggregators and carriers. It's important to note that the stated reason for the mobile internet restrictions is to ensure security and protect against drones, which is not related to the investigation into increased taxi prices.
Interestingly, some city districts and one suburb regained mobile internet connectivity on July 27th, yet the investigation does not cover this fact. Similarly, the investigation does not cover the fact that taxi prices in the regional capital doubled or tripled during the internet outage on July 26th.
It's also worth mentioning that cashless payment methods for public transport were not functioning during the internet outage on July 26th, but the investigation does not cover this aspect. The mobile internet outage did not affect public transport payment methods in all areas of Russia; only cashless payment methods were affected during the outage.
The mobile internet outage occurred on local time on July 26th, and it's important to note that mobile internet restrictions have been in place in different regions of Russia since May 2025. On July 28, 2025, St. Petersburg authorities introduced a ban on migrants driving taxis in rented cars, aiming to improve service “quality and safety,” which economists warned could further contribute to increased taxi prices. This ban, combined with connectivity issues, likely exacerbated price surges in taxi services in Russia during that period.
Thus, the investigation was ordered in response to consumer complaints and observable price hikes linked to both mobile/internet disruptions and regulatory changes impacting taxi operations. The investigation does not cover the mobile internet outage that occurred on July 27th in some specific city districts and one suburb, nor does it cover the cashless payment methods for public transport that were not functioning during the internet outage on July 26th.
Despite the mobile internet outage being linked to regional security issues and not related to the investigation into increased taxi prices, the latter will still cover the actions of taxi aggregators and carriers. The simultaneous occurrence of the internet outage and regulatory changes such as the ban on migrants driving taxis in rented cars in St. Petersburg could have contributed to the observed price hikes in taxi services.
