Russian city tries to shrug off war

IN RUSSIA'S Tver, a medieval city two hours’ drive from Moscow, locals have got used to not being able to use their phones for hours on end.

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Across Russia's western regions, authorities switch off mobile internet when Ukraine launches retaliatory drone attacks in a bid to disrupt their navigation systems.

he swarms have become increasingly frequent as the war looks set to drag into its fifth year, with Kyiv pledging to continue trying to strike Russian energy targets in response to Moscow's nightly missile and drone barrages on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.

Months after the temporary blackouts started being introduced - tentatively at first for fear of triggering a backlash - they are now a fact of everyday life.

“The only inconvenience is the lack of internet,’ Antonina, a 42-year-old accountant, said of life in the city, which is home to around 400 000 people.

“Everything else you can get through,” she added.