- Partial call restrictions on WhatsApp and Telegram; text messaging remains operational.
- Moscow cites fraud, extortion, and security concerns; it demands compliance with the law to reverse the blockade.
- Widespread call outages and thousands of incidents; WhatsApp and Telegram respond.
- Context of greater digital control and push for the national MAX app.
Russia has activated a partial call restriction via WhatsApp and Telegram throughout the country. Authorities maintain that the measure is necessary to curb scams, extortion and other crimes which, they claim, are frequently coordinated through these platforms.
Regulator Roskomnadzor and the Ministry of Digital Development explain that the blocking focuses on calls and that does not affect the sending of messages. Full access to voice service could be restored if both platforms comply with Russian legislation and respond to security requirements communicated by the authorities.
What changes for users and what is the scope?
The intervention is mainly applied to the audio calls and, according to local reports, in some cases it also affects video calls. Roskomnadzor emphasizes that no restrictions have been introduced. other operating limitations on WhatsApp or Telegram.
Since the weekend, numerous users in Russia have reported problems when trying to communicate by voice: Calls don't connect or are cut off, and sometimes there is interference. Several testimonials indicate that other functions, such as texting and file transfer, remain available.
In the last few hours, monitoring services have recorded thousands of incidents: more than 7.000 on Telegram and more than 3.300 on WhatsApp, with a peak between 9:30 a.m. and 13:00 p.m. In addition, on-site verifications describe calls almost inoperative on Telegram and, in the case of WhatsApp, such poor audio quality—with buzzing and interruptions—that it prevents normal conversations.
The authorities link this movement with the deployment, from 2024, of a anti-fraud system which blocks impersonations on traditional telephony. According to Roskomnadzor, the closure of this channel caused many of these criminal communications to migrate to the foreign messengers, hence the new call restriction.
WhatsApp and Telegram have a massive base in the country: Mediascope data places WhatsApp with more than 96 million of monthly users already Telegram with more than 89 million followers, which amplifies the impact of any disruption to voice service.
Official reasons, conditions for reversing the blockade and reactions
Roskomnadzor justifies the move towards the use of these apps in fraud, extortion and alleged sabotage, and reproaches those responsible for having ignored previous requests to implement countermeasures. The main objective is to tackle criminal conduct detected by security forces and reported by citizens.
Official figures show a large-scale problem: the Ministry of the Interior counted in 2024 more than 448.000 victims of online fraud, with losses of about 200.000 billion rubles (approx. 2.000 billion dollars). In parallel, the deputy Anton Nemkin points out that the attacks on WhatsApp users have multiplied by 3,5 since 2024.
The Ministry of Digital Development insists that the measures affect only calls and that Access will be restored if the platforms comply local regulations. Among the requirements cited by legislators are Open a legal entity in Russia, cooperate with Roskomnadzor and law enforcement agencies, and fully comply with national laws.
The fight is not new. Moscow has sanctioned technology companies for data localization breachesRecently, Telegram was fined for not hosting information about Russian citizens in the country, as part of stricter oversight of the digital ecosystem.
WhatsApp points out that the service is private and end-to-end encryption, and who oppose government attempts to violate the right to secure communication. The company reports that Russia is trying to block its use to more than 100 million of people in the country.
Telegram, for its part, assures that it actively combats the incitement to violence and fraud in the public areas of the platform, and that its moderators - supported by artificial intelligence tools— delete millions of malicious messages every day.
The context is one of increasing control of the Internet. In recent years, restrictive laws and blockades to services that do not comply with local standards, in addition to widespread mobile internet outages during the summer. The Government is working with operators on a “white list” of essential services accessible in interruptions, and in Crimea authorities designated by Moscow have warned of indefinite mobile blackouts. Although it is possible to bypass some of the filters with VPN, these tools also are usually blocked periodically.
Russia is promoting its own ecosystem. The bet is MAX, a “national” messaging app developed by VK that aims to integrate chats, payments and public services. Surpassed 2 million registrations in beta phase, forecasts mandatory pre-installation on new cell phones sold in the country and contemplates sharing data with the authorities at the official request. Public institutions and companies are being encouraged to move communications to this platform, while voices in the Duma have warned that WhatsApp should preparing to leave the Russian market if it does not comply with the rules.
