Overview
- WhatsApp says the attempted block would cut off more than 100 million people and calls the move a backward step, pledging to keep users connected where possible.
- Roskomnadzor has slowed or restricted Telegram and other services, with reports of degraded messaging and voice features after earlier partial blocks in 2025.
- Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov says access could be restored if Meta complies with Russian law, citing alleged misuse of platforms for crime and terrorism.
- Russian soldiers, bloggers, and regional officials report communication breakdowns that complicate frontline coordination, compounded by recent limits on Starlink access.
- Moscow is pushing Max, which is preinstalled on new devices and whose policies allow data sharing with agencies; reports say chats lack end-to-end encryption and Ukraine contacts are blocked.