Russian authorities intensified regulatory pressure on Telegram on Tuesday, imposing new restrictions on the popular messaging service and threatening fines totaling up to 64 million rubles (830,000 dollars) over alleged violations of local laws.
The Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) announced it will continue introducing phased restrictions on Telegram until the platform complies with Russian legislation, citing failures to protect personal data and prevent criminal use of the service.
Users across Russia reported widespread disruptions on Tuesday, with complaints on outage monitoring platforms surging to approximately 15,000, far above normal levels. Most users experienced problems downloading photos and videos, delayed message delivery, and slow loading of channels.
Roskomnadzor said Telegram has not addressed legal violations flagged in recent months, including requirements related to data protection and preventing the platform’s use for what authorities describe as criminal and terrorist purposes. The regulator stated it will maintain restrictions to ensure compliance with Russian law and protect citizens.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state news agency TASS that Telegram was not meeting requirements of Russian legislation. He described it as unfortunate that the company was not carrying out laws that need to be observed.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov defended the platform on Tuesday, stating it would remain committed to protecting freedom of speech and user privacy regardless of pressure. Durov, a Russian-born entrepreneur who also holds French and United Arab Emirates citizenship, accused authorities of attempting to force citizens toward a state-controlled alternative.
Durov wrote on his Telegram channel that Russia is restricting access to Telegram in an attempt to force citizens to switch to a state-controlled app built for surveillance and political censorship. He compared the situation to Iran’s unsuccessful attempt to ban Telegram eight years ago.
State news agency RIA reported that Telegram faces eight upcoming court hearings that could result in fines of up to 64 million rubles for alleged failures to remove content required by Russian law. The platform also faces collection of unpaid fees from earlier violations.
Roskomnadzor previously restricted voice and video calling functions on Telegram in August 2025, taking similar steps against Meta Platforms’ WhatsApp. The regulator also blocked Apple’s FaceTime video calling application in December 2025.
Several Moscow residents interviewed by Reuters said they observed deteriorating app performance. Roman, a media professional, noted his business is heavily dependent on the platform. Anna, a young woman, expressed concern about communicating with friends and family who primarily use Telegram.
The restrictions have sparked criticism from unexpected quarters, including Russian military bloggers who rely on Telegram for distributing content and fundraising. A user called Fighterbomber wrote sarcastically that while Russia cannot disable Starlink for Ukrainian forces, it can disable Telegram for Russians.
Telegram is used extensively across Russia by government agencies, media organizations, courts, celebrities, political opposition figures, and ordinary citizens. The platform has also been used by Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine for frontline communications.
The move fits into the Kremlin’s broader push to replace Western digital services with domestic alternatives as it advances plans for what officials call a sovereign internet. In June 2025, President Vladimir Putin signed a law creating a national digital platform centered on the state-developed Max messenger, integrated with government services.
Russia previously attempted to block Telegram in 2018 over encryption disputes but reversed course after enforcement proved ineffective. The current approach suggests a more incremental strategy of applying pressure through financial penalties, feature limitations, and regulatory scrutiny.
As restrictions expand, many Russians increasingly rely on virtual private networks (VPN) to bypass state censorship and access blocked or throttled services.
