Kamchatka Braces for Near-Total Internet Shutdown Amid Undersea Cable Repairs

Aug. 10, 2026 Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the capital of Kamchatka. Alexander Maxin / pexels Authorities in Far East Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula announced Monday that the region will face a near-total internet blackout this week due to maintenance on an undersea fiber-optic cable. Starting at midnight local time on Wednesday, repairs by state telecommunications provider Rostelecom will last up to four days, “weather permitting,” the regional government said. “During this period, mobile and home internet will be unavailable. Messaging apps, social media and online services will not work,” the government added in its statement. Standard voice calls, SMS text messages, television broadcasts and emergency services will remain functional. Meanwhile, critical infrastructure, including hospitals, gas stations, supermarkets and ATMs, will transition to backup satellite connections. Kamchatka’s government advised the region’s 280,000 residents to prepare in advance by withdrawing cash and utilizing offline resources to limit reliance on internet-dependent services. The fiber-optic cable maintenance was originally scheduled for September 2025 but was later postponed. Read more about: Internet , Kamchatka , Far East , Regions Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Tsunami Alert Lifted After Powerful Quakes Off Russian Coast Kamchatka's governor warned of possible aftershocks, which are usual during seismic events and can trigger further earthquakes. 2 Min read Kamchatka Tour Firms Say Surprise Military Drills Costing Industry Over $600K Russia’s Defense Ministry announced that the naval drills in the Pacific Ocean would run from June 16 to June 30. 2 Min read Helicopter With 22 Aboard Goes Missing in Far East Russia's Kamchatka The Soviet-designed Mi-8 military helicopter disappeared from radars after picking up passengers near an ancient volcano. 1 Min read Volcano in Russia's Far East Spews Huge Ash Plume Into Atmosphere The Klyuchevskaya volcano, one of the world's most active volcanoes, began erupting in late June 1 Min read