AUTOCRATS GOTTA AUTOCRAT: Russia Shuts Off Internet in Moscow as It Tests Nationwide Censorship System.

People in Moscow, a city of 13 million, have found themselves unable to pay online bills or message co-workers in recent days. Commuters stepping out of the city’s subway stations can’t order a cab to the office. Unable to access online maps, many are asking strangers for directions for the first time in years. Those who normally work from home are filling cafes as they seek a stable Wi-Fi connection.

In recent months, dozens of Russian regions have gone offline suddenly. The Kremlin has defended the shut-offs as necessary to protect Russians from attacks by Ukrainian drones, which can use local cellphone towers for navigation.

But analysts say what Russians are actually experiencing is the trial of a nationwide system Moscow has been honing to limit information and hobble connectivity in times of upheaval, inspired by lessons from Iran and other authoritarian states.

“This is a system they have wanted to build for years. Now the threat of Ukrainian drones is a perfect chance to test it nationwide,” said Alena Epifanova, an expert on Russia’s internet at the German Council on Foreign Relations. “They use it as a pretext, even in regions where there is no such danger.”

The drone threat is real, but the Kremlin loves having tight control — so who knows?