Russia has ordered internet providers to block access to WhatsApp, marking another step in the Kremlin’s tightening control over digital communications.
Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, said the restriction appears designed to steer more than 100 million Russian users toward Max, a messaging platform developed with state backing. The company warned that cutting off access to encrypted services would reduce privacy and online safety.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the decision was linked to what authorities describe as Meta’s failure to comply with Russian legislation. He said the company could resume operations if it aligns with national laws and engages in formal dialogue. When asked whether the move was intended to push users to Max, Peskov described the domestic platform as an “available alternative” for citizens.
Russia’s communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, also announced additional restrictions on Telegram, citing security concerns. Telegram remains widely used across Russia, including by military personnel in Ukraine. Some pro-war bloggers have criticized the move, saying it disrupts communication channels on the ground.
Efforts to build a domestic alternative to the global internet began before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Since then, the government has accelerated initiatives to strengthen digital sovereignty, with Max emerging as a central element of that strategy.
Critics argue that Max could enable surveillance by state authorities, although Russian state media reject those claims. The app is now heavily promoted nationwide through television campaigns, billboards, and endorsements by public officials.
Russian authorities contend that WhatsApp and Telegram have failed to store user data locally, as required under domestic law. Officials have also claimed that WhatsApp is frequently used for fraud and financial scams, presenting this as further justification for encouraging migration to Max.
In a statement, WhatsApp said it is working to maintain connectivity for users in Russia and warned that isolating millions from secure communication would undermine safety rather than improve it.
State news agency Tass previously reported that WhatsApp could face a permanent nationwide ban by 2026. Russian lawmaker Andrei Svintsov has described strict measures against Meta as justified, noting that the company was designated an extremist organization in 2022.
Although Meta’s platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, were blocked in Russia after that designation, Russian citizens are not prohibited from using them if they access the services through virtual private networks (VPNs).
Digital rights group Na Svyazi reported that Russian authorities have increasingly removed websites from the state-controlled National System of Domain Names. According to the group, 13 prominent online services—including YouTube, Facebook, WhatsApp Web, Instagram, the BBC, and Deutsche Welle—are no longer listed. Once removed, these sites become inaccessible without a VPN.
Max has been compared to China’s WeChat, functioning as a “super-app” that integrates messaging with government services. Since 2025, authorities have required the app to be pre-installed on all new devices sold in Russia. Reports also suggest that public sector workers, teachers, and students are increasingly encouraged or required to use the platform.
Telegram’s chief executive, Pavel Durov, has accused Russian authorities of limiting access to independent platforms in order to channel users toward a state-controlled system that could enable political censorship. Drawing parallels with similar policies in Iran, Durov argued that restricting digital freedoms is not an effective solution.
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