Paranoid security operatives guarding Vladimir Putin will disable mobile internet coverage in St Petersburg when the dictator today makes a speech in the city.
They fear the signals could be used to direct drones in assassination strikes on the warmonger, as has become a common tactic in Ukraine and - more recently - in attacks across the border in Russia.
Russia's Ministry of Communications issued a disabling order to all mobile operators, according to sources of Faridaily news outlet run by journalist Farida Rustamova.
The move was 'in order to prevent drones from attacking the forum venue during the plenary session of Putin's traditional event' - the annual St.
Petersburg International Economic Forum, seen as Russia's Davos equivalent.
Ukraine has launched multiple drone strikes on Russia in retaliation for https://g.co/kgs/smdFmnt endless missile attacks by Putin's forces.
Paranoid security operatives guarding Vladimir Putin (pictured Thursday) will disable mobile internet coverage in St Petersburg when the dictator today makes a speech in the city
Strikes which hit the Kremlin on May 3 were blamed on Ukraine by the Russians.
This was portrayed by Moscow as a bid to 'assassinate Putin'.
And in late May a drone strike came close to Putin's palatial official residence Novo-Ogaryovo, near Moscow.