Millions of Russians were abruptly cut off from the encrypted messaging service WhatsApp on Wednesday afternoon, marking a significant escalation in the government’s long-running effort to steer citizens toward a state-backed “national messenger” designed for centralized oversight.
Earlier in the day, Russian authorities removed the Meta-owned platform from the official online registry maintained by Roskomnadzor, the country’s internet regulator.
The move effectively erased WhatsApp from Russia’s internet infrastructure, rendering the service inaccessible without complex technical workarounds.
The action represents a more comprehensive restriction than previous attempts to throttle the app’s performance and suggests Moscow intends to enforce a prolonged — potentially permanent — block. Until recently, WhatsApp counted at least 100 million users in Russia.
In a statement, WhatsApp said: “Today the Russian government has attempted to fully block WhatsApp in an effort to drive users to a state-owned surveillance app. Trying to isolate over 100 million people from private and secure communication is a backwards step and can only lead to less safety for people in Russia.”
Authorities also removed Meta’s Facebook and Instagram from the registry, further limiting access to the platforms, which had already been designated “extremist” and were largely reachable only through virtual private networks (VPNs).
Access to YouTube was reportedly degraded, according to Russian internet analysts, though it remains unclear whether it was fully removed from the registry.The sweeping restrictions appear to culminate a sustained campaign to promote a rival platform, Max, a messaging and services app modeled on China’s WeChat.
Unlike WhatsApp, Max does not offer encryption and integrates messaging with government services.Max was formally designated Russia’s “national messenger” last year, accelerating adoption of the app, which is owned by VKontakte (VK), the country’s leading social media network. VK is controlled by individuals closely aligned with President Vladimir Putin.
Russia has also intensified disruptions targeting Telegram, the country’s most widely used messaging app for news and entertainment.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov criticized the latest restrictions, writing: “Restricting citizens’ freedom is never the right answer. Telegram stands for freedom of speech and privacy, no matter the pressure.”Domestic criticism has emerged as well.
Telegram is widely used by Russian soldiers and by residents of regions bordering Ukraine, where the app provides real-time alerts about drone and missile attacks. Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the Belgorod region, warned on his Telegram channel:
“I am concerned that slowing Telegram could affect the flow of information, if the situation deteriorates.”Authorities have progressively degraded access to WhatsApp and Telegram since last summer through “partial restrictions” that disabled voice calls.
By December, Russian media reported that WhatsApp’s performance had been slowed by 70 to 80 percent, compounding broader internet disruptions attributed to both Ukrainian attacks and domestic state interventions.
The latest measures signal a decisive shift in Russia’s digital landscape, tightening state control over online communications and significantly narrowing access to encrypted global platforms.
