Russians Are Actively Searching On Google For Ways To Leave The Country

• 20.03.2026, 21:13

Amidst internet blockades.

Among Russian residents in late 2025 - early 2026, interest in the topic of emigration has sharply increased, particularly against the background of large-scale Internet shutdowns. This is evidenced by Google Trends data, Russian opposition publication "Verstka" writes.

According to the analysis, the number of queries "How to leave Russia" or "Leave Russia" rose to 75 points out of 100 in January 2026, and in March - to 88 points.

This is the first increase in the indicators since the so-called partial mobilization was announced in the Russian Federation in September 2022. The peak of interest in emigration was in January 2023 - at that time the topic Leave Russia in Google was estimated at the maximum 100 points. Subsequently, search queries fell to 31 points in February 2025.

The Moscow Times writes that the increase in interest in the topic of leaving Russia is recorded against the background of large-scale disconnections of mobile Internet and the deterioration of the economic situation in the country. In particular, by the end of 2025, Russia has become the world leader in the number of Internet outages: their total duration reached 37,66 hours, affecting about 146 million people.

Since the beginning of March this year, the authorities began to actively "jam" mobile Internet in Moscow. In the city center there is almost no connection, while in other districts only websites from the government's "white list" often work.