Russia’s 'nyet' to the internet

Russia’s 'nyet' to the internet

From The Global Jigsaw by BBC World Service

May 7, 2026 · 36 min

About this episode

The episode explores Russia's efforts to create a sovereign internet and the implications of digital isolation.

The Kremlin’s pursuit of a “sovereign internet” has raised fears of a digital Iron Curtain. After months of mobile internet shutdowns, Russian authorities have moved to block major platforms like YouTube and Telegram, along with the VPNs people rely on to bypass restrictions. We explore what’s driving the push to isolate the largest country on Earth from the global internet and unpack the political, economic and military implications of the country’s tightening digital borders. Contributors: Daria Mosolova, Howard Gethin, Gleb Borshchevski, Evgeny Pudovkin Producer: Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Music: Pete Cunningham

People in this episode

Hosts: Kriszta Satori, Krassi Ivanova Twigg

Guests: Daria Mosolova, Howard Gethin, Gleb Borshchevski, Evgeny Pudovkin

Topics covered

  • internet censorship
  • digital sovereignty
  • Russia
  • political implications
  • economic implications
  • military implications

Keywords

  • sovereign internet
  • digital Iron Curtain
  • internet shutdowns
  • YouTube
  • Telegram
  • VPNs
  • digital borders

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Kremlin

Places: Russia

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