Overview
- Operators began trialing the 24-hour pause on November 10, temporarily disabling mobile internet and SMS for SIM cards that reconnect in Russia after using foreign networks.
- Subscribers can restore data and texting at any time by verifying through an official operator link or a designated call, while voice calls and Wi‑Fi access remain available during the pause.
- The measure applies to all returning travelers, including those coming from Belarus and Kazakhstan, with experts noting potential future technological exceptions.
- Kaliningrad authorities advise turning off phones before border crossings and using manual network selection or disabling automatic roaming to prevent accidental foreign connections.
- Experts warn of phishing risks from fake reactivation messages or premium-rate numbers and urge users to follow only instructions from official operator senders; a separate 72‑hour domestic inactivity rule can also trigger a daylong block.