Indeed, while we go through this time of shift, having gold (silver is better) will allow you to have something to trade for what you need.

I do not believe that Russia is trying to cut cables.
I was watching a guy, who was in a city, where the UCrane forces where getting shelled, and the power, water and internet were still on. If Russia wanted those off, they would just be gone.

So, it is either a story "bad Russkies", or someone else is trying to do it and blame it on the Russians.