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The Russian government has officially blocked WhatsApp and tightened restrictions on Telegram, as part of a broader effort to push citizens toward its state-controlled app.

Getting into it: The block went into effect on February 11, 2026, after Russia’s internet regulator, Roskomnadzor, removed WhatsApp from the country’s official registry of allowed online services. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the ban was due to WhatsApp’s “reluctance to comply with the norms and letter of Russian law,” particularly its failure to store user data within Russia and its refusal to cooperate with law enforcement on surveillance and monitoring demands. Since the ban, WhatsApp has become inaccessible to most users in the country without a VPN.

In response, WhatsApp stated that it was doing “everything we can” to keep users connected, calling the move “a backwards step” that undermines secure communication and public safety. The company condemned the action as an attempt to isolate over 100 million Russian users from private, encrypted messaging. Meta has suggested that Russia’s true intention is to force the public onto MAX, a government-developed alternative platform that lacks end-to-end encryption and has openly stated that it will share user data with authorities upon request. Critics, including digital rights advocates, have labeled MAX a surveillance tool disguised as a messaging app.

The MAX app functions as a centralized “super app” modeled on China’s WeChat. It combines messaging, video and voice calls, digital payments, and access to government services in a single platform. As part of a nationwide rollout, the Russian government has mandated that MAX be pre-installed on all new smartphones and tablets sold in the country since 2025.

Simultaneously, Russian authorities have escalated pressure on Telegram, another foreign-developed messaging app popular with civilians, officials, and military personnel alike. Roskomnadzor announced “phased restrictions” on Telegram for allegedly refusing to remove banned content and failing to store personal data domestically. In recent weeks, users across the country have reported slowed downloads, inaccessible chats, and disruptions to video sharing.

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov criticized the clampdown, saying Russia was attempting to replicate Iran’s failed strategy of replacing Telegram with a state-run platform.