Some Russian internet providers made the Google News aggregator platform unavailable during a march by rebel Wagner mercenaries towards Moscow on June 24, the NetBlocks watchdog organization said on Twitter.
A NetBlocks analysis of visit metrics shows that at least five major Russian internet providers, including Rostelecom, U-LAN and Telpus, blocked the Google News service on June 23 and 24.
"Confirmed: Metrics show that the Google News aggregator platform has become unavailable for many users in Russia; the incident comes amid heightened tensions between the Wagner paramilitary group and Moscow," the message reads.
NetBlocks is an online open service that monitors cybersecurity and the digital governance of connectivity on the Internet.
Wagner mercenary company chief Yevgeny Prigozhin announced his "march on Moscow" and an armed rebellion against Russian Ministry of Defence in the evening on June 23, allegedly following a Russian Air Force attack on Wagner troops and "civilians."
The conflict had run its course by the evening of June 24, when Prigozhin left Rostov-on-Don, where his fighters had seized all main city military objects. Upon his agreement with Putin, he ordered to stop his mercenaries march on Moscow and all units were ordered to return to combat positions.
The self-proclaimed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko mediated in the talks between Putin and Prigozhin, according to the Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
The Kremlin pledged to drop all charges against Prigozhin, whose whereabouts are now unknown.
He is thought to have left for Belarus, in line with the deal struck with the Kremlin.