Overview
- Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov confirmed the service was blocked after WhatsApp had warned Moscow was trying to shut it down entirely to drive users to a state-controlled app.
- Telecom regulator Roskomnadzor said it began progressive restrictions on Telegram earlier in the week, citing violations of Russian legislation and alleged criminal and terrorist use.
- Authorities are steering users to MAX, designated a national messenger, which has been required on new devices since September 2025 and does not use end-to-end encryption.
- Removal of WhatsApp domains from Russia’s registry has made direct access difficult, though many users still connect through VPNs despite rules limiting their promotion.
- Critics, including pro-Kremlin voices and regional officials, warn the curbs could disrupt soldier communications and hinder public alerting during the war in Ukraine.