Ukraine: Google Maps disables features, citizens alter road signs to halt Russians

Google, the tech
giant owned and operated by Alphabet Inc, disabled its Google Maps feature in
Ukraine temporarily on Sunday for the safety of local communities, the company
confirmed, reports Reuters. Google Maps is an online mapping platform that lets
users view streets and traffic conditions. The temporary suspension of Google
Maps comes at a time when the platform was finding immense use in tracking the
war in Ukraine.

The Washington
Post recently reported how a California-based international relations professor
used traffic from Belgorod in Russia to let his team know that Russian troops
were moving into Ukraine – by spotting an unlikely traffic jam. This happened
hours before Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “special military
operation” in Ukraine.

Google primarily
disabled live traffic tracking after a consultation with Ukrainian authorities.
Some features, however, remained available, Axios reported quoting Google.

Further,
Ukrainians are changing road signs in order to confuse Russian troops coming
in. Citizens were asked to change the road signs by the authority that
overlooks Ukraine’s road transport system, Ukravtodor. Ukravtodor said, “The
enemy has poor communications, they cannot navigate the terrain.” “Let us help
them get straight to hell.”

The Ukrainians
have put up stiff resistance to Russian aggression. Thousands of citizens,
including politicians and celebrities have joined the war effort. Talking about
the resistance put up by Ukraine, the country’s defence minister said Sunday, “Where
are all those who promised to capture Kyiv in two hours? Where they at. I can’t
see them…the darkness will retreat. The dawn is near.”

Ukraine President
Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that the next 24 hours. He was speaking to UK
Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Johnson told Zelensky that the UK and other
Western nations will do everything in their power to send weapons and other aid
to Ukraine.