Click Here The internet Putin always wanted
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Sep 2, 2025 Katarina Stepinenko, a Russian analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, sheds light on Putin's vision for a tightly controlled internet in Russia, masked by claims of security. She discusses the contrasting digital landscapes of Russia and China, the regime's attempts to control dissent during the Ukraine conflict, and the evolution of media regulation. Additionally, Stepinenko highlights the dire state of digital freedoms, the implementation of state-controlled messaging, and ongoing cybersecurity threats, painting a grim picture of life in a censored digital world.
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Russia's Wild West Internet
- Putin historically controlled TV but left the internet relatively open, creating a digital Wild West in Russia.
- That openness later became a strategic vulnerability once online actors challenged Kremlin narratives.
Prigozhin's Real-Time Rebellion
- Yevgeny Prigozhin used Telegram to broadcast rants and frontline videos that undermined Kremlin media control.
- He then led a short-lived mutiny that marched toward Moscow, showing the internet's power to mobilize forces.
Navalny's Online Movement And Fate
- Alexei Navalny built a large online following with investigations and livestreamed rallies while being excluded from Russian TV.
- Navalny's poisoning, imprisonment, and death silenced a major online opposition voice inside Russia.