On 21 August 2024, Russia’s internet censorship body Roskomnadzor blocked access to the website of independent news outlet Astra, according to a publication on the outlet’s Telegram channel. While Astra said that Roskomnadzor did not explain the reasons for the block, the independent Russian internet freedom monitoring group Roskomsvoboda reported that the website was “most likely blocked due to wartime censorship”. Under Russian legislation, any reporting on the war in Ukraine not based on official Russian sources can be considered illegal “fake news” aiming to “discredit” the Russian army.
Founded in 2022, Astra is an independent outlet active mainly on Telegram, where it is followed by nearly 250 thousand users. The outlet said it had launched its website only two months ago. Astra’s Telegram channel remains accessible in Russia.