Russia restricts WhatsApp, citizens fear Telegram block
The Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media, Roskomnadzor (RKN), is restricting the operation of WhatsApp*, and Russians are, predictably, afraid of a Telegram block. Calls have not been working in either since summer. In September, presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said both messengers should continue to operate in Russia, but as we see, reality throws up surprises. Sometimes not entirely unexpected ones.
MSK1.RU recalls what officials previously said about the fate of messengers and what they did afterwards.
Telegram was already blocked — what next?
The history between Russian authorities and Telegram is a long one. The messenger began to be blocked in 2018 when its creator, Pavel Durov, refused to provide the FSB with technology for decrypting correspondence. Russians (including Dmitry Peskov) continued to use Telegram anyway, and in 2020 RKN stopped the block.
In 2025, when the issue of access to the app became relevant again, Dmitry Peskov denied rumors about plans to block or throttle Telegram. For his part, Vladimir Putin stated the problem with messengers was only about compliance with Russian laws. In an interview with India Today, he also claimed that «these messengers — Telegram and so on» are used to influence youth.
Just recently, State Duma Committee on Information Policy chairman Sergey Boyarsky said it was not yet worth talking about a complete Telegram block. He urged waiting until all channels from there «move» to VK«s MAX platform.
«Telegram was and remains not only a messenger but also a social network, so it should be approached from that angle. Channels have been created and are operating there, into which significant resources and effort have been invested. For now, I would prefer not to talk about a complete Telegram block,» the deputy told RBC.
WhatsApp* was promised to be left alone — it wasn«t
The authorities« first grievances with WhatsApp* appeared in 2023. The messenger wanted to launch channels then, but RKN threatened a block if they turned out to be »unfriendly« and contained prohibited information. The messenger»s management complied and left Russians without the new feature. Minister of Digital Development Maksut Shadayev then expressed confidence that everything would be «fine» with WhatsApp*.
Safe Internet League director Ekaterina Mizulina wrote on her Telegram channel in 2023 that she was «very skeptical» about blocking the messenger. She noted that millions of Russians, both young and old, use the platform daily.
«Where will they send each other holiday greetings and communicate with relatives? It seems to me that society as a whole may react negatively to the departure of this resource,» Mizulina said.
In 2024, the aforementioned deputy Sergey Boyarsky told TASS that information about a WhatsApp* block was rumors. Even in July 2025, in a conversation with Gazeta.ru, Boyarsky still insisted that reports of the messenger being blocked were a «ridiculous weekend leak.»
Much water has flowed under the bridge since then. Now RKN is directly promising a complete block, and the messenger accuses the Russian authorities of trying to deprive users of the right to private communication.
Boyarsky himself now says the authorities have «banned no one,» they only demanded compliance with laws. According to him, WhatsApp* simply «never landed» — it did not open a representative office in Russia.
Why Roskomnadzor has seriously targeted the messenger right now is unknown. Lead analyst at Mobile Research Group Eldar Murtazin, in a conversation with MSK1.RU, suggested the agency blocks resources when it gains the technical capability.
«Roskomnadzor lacks the equipment to block all services that have already been blocked. When they receive new equipment, we get new blocks,» the expert explained.
According to data from the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM), more than a third of Russians (39%) are somewhat against blocking foreign resources. Only 24% of respondents view restrictions positively.
Alongside RKN«s activity, the Ministry of Digital Development this year launched a »white list« — a list of resources available even during an internet block. We detailed which services are on it, which definitely are not, and whether the innovation brings us closer to isolation.
* — Owned by Meta, which is recognized as an extremist organization and banned in the Russian Federation.
