You're reading: Ukrtelekom says Internet, phone connections interrupted between Crimea and rest of Ukraine

Ukrtelecom announced today that the company's offices in Crimea have been seized in several locations, cutting phone and Internet service between the Crimean peninsula and the rest of Ukraine. However, service was restored after a few hours, according to people in Crimea.

“As a result of unknown actions there has been physical damage to several fiber optic transmission cables of the company,” Ukrtelecom said in a statement. As a consequence, fixed telephone, mobile phone and internet service has been disrupted.

Ukrtelecom said that communication service must be restored to maintain vital emergency connections on the peninsula, including for medical, fire and other. 

The Crimean Branch of Ukrtelecom asked for an end to the damage of its equipment and said that it has reported the vandalism to police.

Ukrtelecom experts are “doing everything in their power to normalize the network operator and ensure a speedy recovery of the line on the peninsula.”