Moscow has transformed into a technological wonderland with facial payment systems, delivery robots, and upcoming driverless taxis. These advances are supported by a robust digital infrastructure that has made the city safer, reducing crimes that plagued it 25 years ago. However, this convenience comes at a cost: an expanding surveillance state.

The city's roughly 300,000 CCTV cameras are among the most extensive in the world, linked to biometric databases. Russians cannot fully access digital services without submitting biometric data, which is encouraged through widespread advertisements. These systems help authorities target political dissent and track critics after gatherings.

In April, a Russian musician was detained in St. Petersburg after cameras mistook him for a Ukrainian public figure. Around 10 million Russians now use biometrics-driven applications, with the Kremlin pushing expansion to airports and public transport. AI-enhanced digitized systems make evading military conscription nearly impossible, as seen when Vlad, 28, received an electronic summons via the State Services app that barred him from leaving the country until compliance.

With Russia's war in Ukraine, the stakes behind growing surveillance have intensified, making the days of evading authorities through remote towns largely over.