The occupation authorities in Donetsk and Luhansk regions have banned the sale, installation, and use of satellite television equipment capable of receiving Ukrainian TV channels, the press service of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense reported.
“The occupation authorities have undertaken another set of measures to restrict Ukrainians’ access to Ukrainian and international sources of information in temporarily occupied territories. In particular, the leaders of the occupation administrations of Donetsk and Luhansk regions signed decrees banning the sale, installation, and use of satellite television equipment that can receive Ukrainian TV channels,” the Intelligence Directorate said on Telegram.
It is reported that the decree came into effect on October 10, and the illegal confiscation of satellite equipment from the population was planned to be completed by November 1.
“Additionally, the Kremlin has mandated blocking Russian SIM cards for civilians who have not linked them to their passport data. This decision aims to accelerate forced ‘passportization’ and exert additional pressure on Ukrainians who refuse to obtain Russian passports. In case of refusal, residents of the temporarily occupied territories will completely lose access to mobile communications,” the Intelligence Directorate noted.
The agency emphasized that the Kremlin also seeks to control information resources. Russian forces have obliged authors of Telegram channels in the temporarily occupied territories with over 10,000 subscribers to integrate a special bot from Roskomnadzor. This bot, with administrator rights, can edit and delete posts and block comments. Thus, any messages exposing corruption in the occupation administrations or criticizing the Russian government can be immediately deleted or altered.
“The purpose of these measures is to create an informational ‘bubble’ in the temporarily occupied territories, where access to Ukrainian and international resources is blocked, and any information not controlled by the Kremlin is immediately censored. The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reminds: obstructing Ukrainians’ access to information is unacceptable, and those responsible for these crimes will face justice,” the intelligence agency stressed.
