Mobile internet shutdowns have become a routine part of life in 2026. Only websites from the “white list” work — Gosuslugi (government services portal), banks, and marketplaces. Everything else is unavailable. And if you happen to have a VPN enabled, even those won’t work. But now the State Duma has proposed lifting these restrictions for those whose phone number is linked to a verified Gosuslugi account. Let’s break down why this could be a breath of fresh air for iPhone owners.
No Gosuslugi? You’ll be on the dark side
White Lists During Mobile Internet Shutdowns in Russia
When mobile internet is shut down, access is only preserved for resources on the Ministry of Digital Development’s “white list”. This is a list of domains and IP addresses that telecom operators are required to maintain even under restrictions. Anything not on the list simply stops loading.
The mechanism has been in place since August 2025. It was initially tested in the regions, and in March 2026 it became fully operational in Moscow. The restrictions are imposed for security reasons — for example, during drone attack threats. Wired internet is not affected.
Currently, the “white list” contains over 120 resources. Government portals, several banks, marketplaces Ozon and Wildberries, social networks VKontakte and Odnoklassniki, the MAX messenger which recently changed its name to MAKS, and telecom operators. However, Sberbank, T-Bank, and a number of other major banks are still not on the list. Their customers — tens of millions of people — are left without mobile banking during every shutdown.
Full Mobile Internet Access: Who Will It Affect
First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Control Dmitry Gusev, together with a group of entrepreneurs, sent a letter to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. The main proposal is to not restrict mobile internet for those whose phone number is linked to a verified Gosuslugi account. It’s encouraging that they’re not trying to tie it to a digital ID, which Gosuslugi has been persistently urging users to create since late last year.
With a Gosuslugi account linked to your number, there will be no internet restrictions
The logic is simple. Mobile internet restrictions are imposed due to security threats. But if the government knows exactly who owns a SIM card — why shut off that person’s internet? A verified user is not an anonymous threat. They are an identified citizen who can be given full network access.
In essence, a Gosuslugi account becomes a digital pass to normal internet. Link your number — and use all websites without restrictions, even when everyone else is limited to “white lists.”
Benefits of Disabling White Lists for iPhone Users
Imagine: mobile internet is restricted again. Your colleague without a Gosuslugi link can only access Gosuslugi, VKontakte, and Ozon. Meanwhile, you easily download apps on your iPhone from the App Store, sync photos to iCloud, and use AI services without any issues.
For Apple device owners, yet another reason to get a verified account
This changes the entire restriction model. Currently, the internet is shut down in a “blanket” fashion — the same for everyone. Gusev’s proposal makes the system targeted: restrictions remain only for unidentified SIM cards. And for Apple device owners, this is a real chance to breathe easy. Under restrictions and the need for iPhones to connect to foreign servers for syncing, white lists caused nothing but headaches. Now that would no longer be the case.
For regular users, this is a powerful incentive to link your number to Gosuslugi if you haven’t done so already. And for the government, it’s a way to simultaneously maintain security without paralyzing the lives of millions of people.
How White Lists Will Change in Russia
Besides the Gosuslugi “pass,” the document includes other points.
Expanding “white lists” to include small businesses and self-employed individuals. Currently, only the largest platforms are on the list. But hundreds of thousands of small online stores, local producers, and freelancers lose customers and revenue with every shutdown. Gusev believes they should also be protected.
Creating a “white list” of VPNs. Not the ones used to bypass blocks, but those that comply with Russian law and without which many corporate networks cannot function. This is a basic data protection tool, not a way to access blocked websites.
Providing accredited IT companies with legal access to foreign libraries and code repositories. Without GitHub, npm, and other platforms, domestic software development stalls. Import substitution in software is impossible without access to the global codebase.
When Will White Lists Be Disabled in Russia
For now, this is just a proposal — the letter has been sent to the government. There are no specific timelines. But the context suggests the topic is urgent. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Digital Development is tightening requirements for “white lists”: platforms are being required to block users with VPNs, and VPN usage in Russia has already reached 39%.
The mobile internet restriction system clearly needs refinement. It was created for emergency situations but has become part of everyday life. And Gusev’s proposal is an attempt to make it less painful for those who have nothing to hide.
If the initiative is supported, a verified Gosuslugi account will become not just a convenience but a necessity. At least for everyone who doesn’t want to be stuck on a restricted internet every time the city activates “white lists.”
