WhatsApp says the move could disrupt secure communication for over 100 million users in Russia.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov called the action an attempt to push citizens toward a state-controlled app.
The restrictions come amid broader tensions between Moscow and foreign tech firms following the Ukraine invasion.
Russia has taken steps to restrict instant messaging services such as WhatsApp and Telegram. While the exact details are unknown, it appears that Russia intends to promote domestically developed alternatives while tightening oversight of its digital ecosystem.
SurveyIn response, WhatsApp criticised the move, warning that blocking the service would cut off secure communication for more than 100 million users in the country. In a statement published on X, the Meta-owned platform stated that the action was intended to direct users to a government-backed application and argued that restricting access to private messaging tools would ultimately reduce user safety. The company stated that it is working to keep people in Russia connected.
Today the Russian government attempted to fully block WhatsApp in an effort to drive people to a state-owned surveillance app. 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.…
— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) February 12, 2026
On the other hand, Telegram founder Pavel Durov issued strong statements condemning the move as an attempt to coerce citizens into using a state-controlled app designed for monitoring and censorship. He stated that the company’s stance will not change, and he reaffirmed Telegram’s commitment to user privacy and freedom of expression despite the mounting pressure.
Russia is restricting access to Telegram to force its citizens onto a state-controlled app built for surveillance and political censorship. This authoritarian move won’t change our course. Telegram stands for freedom and privacy, no matter the pressure.
— Pavel Durov (@durov) February 10, 2026
The restrictions come amid ongoing tensions between Moscow and foreign technology companies since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The authorities have increasingly promoted “MAX,” a state-supported messaging platform that critics claim could allow for user surveillance. However, such claims have been dismissed by Russian state media.
Dmitry Peskov, a Russian diplomat, stated that the future of WhatsApp will depend on Meta, and that if they follow local regulations. He suggested that dialogue with authorities could lead to an agreement, but warned that refusing to comply with Russian law would leave little room for compromise.
Over the past year, Russian regulators have tightened controls on a number of foreign platforms. Access to certain WhatsApp and Telegram calling features has been restricted, with officials accusing the companies of failing to cooperate with law enforcement in cases of fraud and terrorism. In December, Apple’s FaceTime service was also disabled.
Follow Us
Ashish Singh
Ashish Singh is the Chief Copy Editor at Digit. He's been wrangling tech jargon since 2020 (Times Internet, Jagran English '22). When not policing commas, he's likely fueling his gadget habit with coffee, strategising his next virtual race, or plotting a road trip to test the latest in-car tech. He speaks fluent Geek. View Full Profile
