WhatsApp Says Russia Attempted Full Block as Messaging Restrictions Intensify

Russia has reportedly made efforts to completely restrict access to WhatsApp within the country, according to the company, as authorities continue expanding controls over digital communication platforms. WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta, said the action appears intended to redirect its user base — estimated to exceed 100 million people in Russia — toward what it described as a "state-owned surveillance app".

The reported move follows additional restrictions imposed by Russian regulators on Telegram, which officials have criticized for what they described as insufficient security compliance. Telegram is believed to have a user base in Russia comparable in size to WhatsApp, making it one of the country’s most widely used messaging services. The Kremlin did not immediately provide a response to a request for comment made by the BBC regarding the alleged blocking attempt.

In a public statement, WhatsApp criticized the measures, saying, "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." The company added, "We continue to do everything we can to keep users connected."

Russia’s communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, has repeatedly warned WhatsApp to comply with national legislation governing digital communications and data control. According to earlier reporting by state-owned Tass Media this year, authorities are expected to move toward permanently blocking WhatsApp across the country in 2026.

Russian officials have defended the tightening restrictions. "Such harsh measures" are "absolutely justified" since Russia has designated Meta as an extremist organisation, Russian official Andrei Svintsov was quoted as saying.

Since Russia formally designated Meta as an extremist organization in 2022, several of its platforms, including Instagram and Facebook, have been blocked nationwide. Access to those services has largely been limited to users who rely on virtual private networks to bypass domestic internet controls.

By fLEXI tEAM