Russian authorities have taken aggressive steps to restrict access to WhatsApp, the popular Meta-owned messaging service, in what appears to be a coordinated effort to steer millions of users toward a government-supported domestic platform.
The move, confirmed by WhatsApp on February 11, has left over 100 million Russian users facing sudden disruptions, prompting widespread concerns about online freedoms and privacy.
According to WhatsApp’s official statement, the Russian government ‘attempted to fully block’ the app nationwide. This action followed the removal of WhatsApp from the official registry maintained by Roskomnadzor, Russia’s federal communications and internet watchdog.
The deletion effectively cuts the service from legitimate access within the country’s digital infrastructure, forcing users to rely on workarounds like virtual private networks (VPNs) to continue messaging.
The company sharply criticized the decision, describing it as an attempt to ‘isolate over 100 million people from private and secure communication.’ A WhatsApp spokesperson emphasized that such measures represent a ‘backwards step’ that could ultimately reduce safety for ordinary Russians by pushing them toward less secure alternatives. The firm vowed to explore all possible options to maintain connectivity for its user base in the country.
The crackdown aligns with Moscow’s broader strategy to favor homegrown digital services amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and sanctions. Authorities have been actively promoting a state-developed ‘super app’ known as Max, which integrates messaging, payments, and other features under tighter government oversight.
Critics, including privacy advocates, have labeled Max a potential ‘surveillance tool,’ arguing it could enable greater monitoring of communications compared to encrypted foreign apps like WhatsApp.
This escalation builds on previous restrictions. Since August 2025, Roskomnadzor has limited voice and video calls on both WhatsApp and Telegram, citing concerns over fraud, extortion, and alleged use in criminal or terrorist activities. Partial throttling of media sharing and other functions followed later in the year.
While Telegram, another widely used messenger in Russia, has faced similar phased curbs and slowdowns as recently as early February 2026, WhatsApp’s situation has now advanced to what many describe as a de facto nationwide ban.
State media outlets, including TASS, have previously indicated that a permanent block on WhatsApp could materialize sometime in 2026, framing such steps as necessary to enforce compliance with national laws on data protection and content moderation.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, when questioned about the restrictions, referred back to legal obligations without providing further details on reversal prospects.
User reactions have been swift, with reports of widespread outages emerging overnight. Many Russians have turned to alternatives, including Telegram (despite its own limitations) or domestic options, though VPN usage has reportedly spiked as people seek to bypass the barriers.
The development relates to Russia pushing for ‘digital sovereignty,’ a policy aimed at reducing reliance on Western tech giants. With Meta already designated as an extremist organization in Russia since 2022, leading to blocks on Facebook and Instagram, the latest action against WhatsApp signals an intensifying squeeze on foreign messaging platforms.