Russia has ordered the blocking of WhatsApp as authorities continue to tighten control over messaging platforms in the country.
Meta, which owns WhatsApp, said the move is designed to push more than 100 million users in Russia onto a “state-owned surveillance app”. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the BBC the decision was taken because of Meta’s “unwillingness to comply with the norms and the letter of Russian law”. He added that Meta could resume operations if it complies with the law and enters into dialogue with authorities.
When asked whether the government was trying to force people to use the state-developed Max app, Peskov said the “national messenger is an available alternative” for Russians.
The country’s internet regulator, Roskomnadzor, also said this week it was further restricting access to Telegram, citing security concerns. Telegram is extremely popular in Russia and is widely used by Russian forces in Ukraine. Pro-war bloggers have complained that the restrictions are disrupting communication on the ground.
Even before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian authorities had been working on creating a domestic alternative to the global internet. Those efforts have accelerated during the war, alongside a strong push for the state-backed Max platform.
Critics claim Max could be used by authorities for surveillance, an accusation denied by state media. The app is now being heavily promoted across Russia through television adverts, billboards, local officials and state-aligned media.
Russian officials argue that both WhatsApp and Telegram have refused to store Russian users’ data inside the country, as required by law. Authorities also allege WhatsApp is commonly used for fraud and extortion, saying this is another reason users should switch to Max.
WhatsApp said it was doing everything possible to keep people connected. “Trying to isolate over 100 million users from private and secure communication is a backwards step and can only lead to less safety for people in Russia,” the company said in a statement.
State news agency Tass previously reported that WhatsApp was expected to be permanently blocked in Russia in 2026. Russian official Andrei Svintsov said such “harsh measures” were “absolutely justified” because Meta has been designated an extremist organisation in the country.
WhatsApp was once Russia’s most popular messaging service, but since Meta was labelled extremist in 2022, its platforms such as Instagram and Facebook have been blocked and are only accessible via virtual private networks (VPNs). Russians themselves are not banned from using Meta’s products.
Digital rights group Na Svyazi (In Touch) says Russia has increasingly removed major websites from the state-controlled National System of Domain Names. According to the group, 13 popular services are now missing, including YouTube, Facebook, WhatsApp Web, Instagram, the BBC and Deutsche Welle. Once removed, these sites cannot be accessed without a VPN.
Moscow has made sustained efforts to push users toward the Max app, which critics say lacks end-to-end encryption and could be accessed by authorities. The platform has been compared to China’s WeChat, a “super app” that combines messaging with government services.
Since 2025, Max has been required to come pre-installed on all new devices sold in Russia, and there have been reports that public sector workers, teachers and students are increasingly being told to use it.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov said the state was restricting access to his service in an attempt to force people onto its own platform for surveillance and political censorship. He pointed to Iran’s failed attempts to ban Telegram and replace it with a state-run alternative, noting that citizens often find ways around such restrictions.
“Restricting citizens’ freedom is never the right answer,” Durov said.
