On 21 September 2022, Russian state media and communications regulator Roskomnadzor announced that media outlets spreading “false information” about mobilisation of military reservists for the war in Ukraine could face immediate website blocks or fines. The regulator said in a statement that media organisations had to use “information and data obtained exclusively from federal and regional executive bodies when preparing and publishing materials related to mobilization activities in the Russian Federation.” Media that do not could be fined up to 5 million rubles. These administrative charges for “abusing the freedom of mass information” would be carried out under the Russian administrative code and the Russian law on information. The announcement was similar to an announcement made when Russia launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, when Roskomnadzor warned that media could only use information provided by official Russian sources about what the so-called “special military operation”, rather than a war.