Russia has confirmed that it has blocked on the spot messaging app WhatsApp within the nation, as a substitute directing Russian residents to make use of its state-backed Max app.
The information comes days after it emerged that Russian authorities had been restricting access to Telegram, one other on the spot messaging app that’s utilized by thousands and thousands of individuals in Russia, together with the navy, top-level public officers, state media companies and authorities our bodies, such because the Kremlin and Roskomnadzor, the communications regulator.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov instructed journalists Thursday that the choice to dam WhatsApp was made as a consequence of what he known as violations of the regulation by the app’s guardian firm, with out elaborating.
“Max is an affordable alternative on the market for citizens, a developing national messenger. Regarding the blocking of WhatsApp, our authorities did indeed state that the decision was made and implemented due to the corporation’s unwillingness to comply with the law,” Peskov mentioned.
WhatsApp is owned by Meta (META), which additionally owns Facebook and Instagram.
Earlier on Thursday, WhatsApp put out a press release saying the Russian authorities had “attempted to fully block WhatsApp.” WhatsApp described it as an effort to “drive people to a state-owned surveillance app.”
The assertion added: “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. We continue to do everything we can to keep users connected.”
NCS has contacted Meta to ask whether or not WhatsApp is now certainly totally blocked in Russia.
Some customers in Russia reported Thursday having the ability to entry WhatsApp utilizing a VPN. But the Kremlin has more and more cracked down on VPNs throughout the nation, together with limiting entry to 439 VPN companies with the intention to forestall the bypassing of state restrictions. In September, a regulation got here into drive banning the promoting of VPNs and different technique of bypassing blocks on social media.
This just isn’t the primary time Russia has gone after the app. In August 2025, Roskomnadzor – a federal company liable for monitoring and controlling the nation’s mass media – introduced restrictions on video and voice calls through WhatsApp and Telegram “in order to counter criminals.” WhatsApp, in its flip, accused Russia of trying to dam entry to the app for its Russian customers.
Russia has already banned Facebook, Instagram and X.
Max is a homegrown messenger that Russia is pre-installing on all new gadgets as a part of a broader push to interchange international platforms.
Similarly to China’s WeChat, it is designed as an all-in-one super-app combining messaging, calls, funds and different companies, permitting customers to authenticate their id for presidency platforms that present public companies. Critics have raised security and privateness issues about Max, warning that the app has extreme monitoring capabilities and lacks robust encryption.
On Tuesday, the Russian authorities mentioned it was limiting entry to Telegram for the “protection of Russian citizens,” accusing the app of refusing to dam content material authorities contemplate “criminal and terrorist.”
The app’s Russian-born founder Pavel Durov mentioned in a press release that day that Russia’s makes an attempt to limit Telegram would fail, writing that “Telegram stands for freedom of speech and privacy, no matter the pressure.”