Russia Attempts Full WhatsApp Block, Pushing 100 Million Users Toward State-Controlled Messaging App

Russia has attempted to fully block WhatsApp, the Meta-owned messaging service used by more than 100 million people in the country, in what the company has called a deliberate effort to drive users toward a state-controlled surveillance platform .

The escalation, confirmed by WhatsApp on Wednesday, marks the most aggressive move yet in Moscow’s years-long campaign to sever its citizens from Western communication platforms and build what the Kremlin calls a "sovereign internet" — an online space insulated from foreign influence and more amenable to state monitoring Russia attempted to ‘fully block’ WhatsApp, Meta-owned company saystheguardian.com·SecondaryMove is a ‘backwards step’, company spokesperson says, amid concerns Kremlin is seeking more state control via messaging apps such as Max Russia has attempted to “fully block” WhatsApp in an attempt to push users towards its own state-sponsored communications app, Max, a spokesperson for the Meta-owned company has said. The company did not reveal more detail on what extent the attempt succeeded or what action was taken to try to block the app..

What Happened

WhatsApp domain names began disappearing from Russia’s national register on Thursday, meaning devices inside the country stopped receiving the app’s IP addresses and could access it only through virtual private networks . The state communications regulator Roskomnadzor had previously removed WhatsApp, along with Facebook and Instagram, from its official online directory Russia attempted to ‘fully block’ WhatsApp, Meta-owned company saystheguardian.com·SecondaryMove is a ‘backwards step’, company spokesperson says, amid concerns Kremlin is seeking more state control via messaging apps such as Max Russia has attempted to “fully block” WhatsApp in an attempt to push users towards its own state-sponsored communications app, Max, a spokesperson for the Meta-owned company has said. The company did not reveal more detail on what extent the attempt succeeded or what action was taken to try to block the app..

A WhatsApp spokesperson told reporters that Russia’s government had "attempted to fully block WhatsApp in an effort to drive people to a state-owned surveillance app" . The company said it would "continue to do everything we can to keep users connected" Russia attempted to ‘fully block’ WhatsApp, Meta-owned company saystheguardian.com·SecondaryMove is a ‘backwards step’, company spokesperson says, amid concerns Kremlin is seeking more state control via messaging apps such as Max Russia has attempted to “fully block” WhatsApp in an attempt to push users towards its own state-sponsored communications app, Max, a spokesperson for the Meta-owned company has said. The company did not reveal more detail on what extent the attempt succeeded or what action was taken to try to block the app..

The MAX Alternative

At the centre of Moscow’s messaging strategy is MAX, a state-backed app modelled on China’s WeChat super-app that has approximately 55 million users across Russia Russia attempted to ‘fully block’ WhatsApp, Meta-owned company saystheguardian.com·SecondaryMove is a ‘backwards step’, company spokesperson says, amid concerns Kremlin is seeking more state control via messaging apps such as Max Russia has attempted to “fully block” WhatsApp in an attempt to push users towards its own state-sponsored communications app, Max, a spokesperson for the Meta-owned company has said. The company did not reveal more detail on what extent the attempt succeeded or what action was taken to try to block the app.. In August 2025, Russian authorities ordered MAX to be pre-installed on all new phones sold in the country Russia attempted to ‘fully block’ WhatsApp, Meta-owned company saystheguardian.com·SecondaryMove is a ‘backwards step’, company spokesperson says, amid concerns Kremlin is seeking more state control via messaging apps such as Max Russia has attempted to “fully block” WhatsApp in an attempt to push users towards its own state-sponsored communications app, Max, a spokesperson for the Meta-owned company has said. The company did not reveal more detail on what extent the attempt succeeded or what action was taken to try to block the app..

Critics and internet security experts have warned that MAX could provide a backdoor to Russia’s security services, enabling surveillance of private communications . State media have dismissed these accusations as false Russia moves to block WhatsApp as Moscow pushes state-backed rivaldw.com·SecondaryRussia has attempted to block Meta Platforms-owned WhatsApp in the country, the company said on Wednesday, as Moscow tightens control over foreign technology firms and promotes its own "national messenger." A WhatsApp spokesperson said the move was aimed at pushing users toward a "state-owned surveillance app..

The Kremlin’s Position

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov laid out the terms in blunt fashion. Speaking to state news agency TASS, Peskov said WhatsApp’s return depended entirely on Meta’s willingness to comply with Russian law .

If Meta enters into dialogue with Russian authorities, there is the possibility of reaching an agreement, Peskov said. But if the corporation sticks to an uncompromising position and shows itself unready to align with Russian legislation, then there is no chance, he added .

The framing places the onus squarely on Meta, portraying the block as a regulatory compliance issue rather than a censorship measure.

Broader Crackdown on Foreign Platforms

The WhatsApp block does not exist in isolation. It is part of a systematic tightening that has accelerated since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 Russia moves to block WhatsApp as Moscow pushes state-backed rivaldw.com·SecondaryRussia has attempted to block Meta Platforms-owned WhatsApp in the country, the company said on Wednesday, as Moscow tightens control over foreign technology firms and promotes its own "national messenger." A WhatsApp spokesperson said the move was aimed at pushing users toward a "state-owned surveillance app..

Russia banned Facebook and Instagram as "extremist" shortly after the invasion . In August 2025, Roskomnadzor began restricting voice and video calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, accusing foreign-owned platforms of refusing to share information with law enforcement in fraud and terrorism cases . In December 2025, authorities blocked Apple’s FaceTime video calling service Russia attempted to ‘fully block’ WhatsApp, Meta-owned company saystheguardian.com·SecondaryMove is a ‘backwards step’, company spokesperson says, amid concerns Kremlin is seeking more state control via messaging apps such as Max Russia has attempted to “fully block” WhatsApp in an attempt to push users towards its own state-sponsored communications app, Max, a spokesperson for the Meta-owned company has said. The company did not reveal more detail on what extent the attempt succeeded or what action was taken to try to block the app..

Most recently, Telegram users across Russia reported significantly slower traffic and lagging downloads throughout Tuesday, with Roskomnadzor warning of further restrictions for unresolved violations Russia attempted to ‘fully block’ WhatsApp, Meta-owned company saystheguardian.com·SecondaryMove is a ‘backwards step’, company spokesperson says, amid concerns Kremlin is seeking more state control via messaging apps such as Max Russia has attempted to “fully block” WhatsApp in an attempt to push users towards its own state-sponsored communications app, Max, a spokesperson for the Meta-owned company has said. The company did not reveal more detail on what extent the attempt succeeded or what action was taken to try to block the app..

Telegram’s Durov Pushes Back

Telegram’s Russian-born founder Pavel Durov, based in Dubai, responded to the pressure campaign with a pointed public statement. Restricting citizens’ freedom is never the right answer, Durov wrote, adding that Telegram stands for freedom of speech and privacy, no matter the pressure Russia attempted to ‘fully block’ WhatsApp, Meta-owned company saystheguardian.com·SecondaryMove is a ‘backwards step’, company spokesperson says, amid concerns Kremlin is seeking more state control via messaging apps such as Max Russia has attempted to “fully block” WhatsApp in an attempt to push users towards its own state-sponsored communications app, Max, a spokesperson for the Meta-owned company has said. The company did not reveal more detail on what extent the attempt succeeded or what action was taken to try to block the app..

The Telegram restrictions drew criticism from an unexpected quarter: frontline Russian troops and pro-war military bloggers, who rely heavily on the platform for communication and coordination Russia attempted to ‘fully block’ WhatsApp, Meta-owned company saystheguardian.com·SecondaryMove is a ‘backwards step’, company spokesperson says, amid concerns Kremlin is seeking more state control via messaging apps such as Max Russia has attempted to “fully block” WhatsApp in an attempt to push users towards its own state-sponsored communications app, Max, a spokesperson for the Meta-owned company has said. The company did not reveal more detail on what extent the attempt succeeded or what action was taken to try to block the app.. Exiled opposition figures also condemned the move Russia attempted to ‘fully block’ WhatsApp, Meta-owned company saystheguardian.com·SecondaryMove is a ‘backwards step’, company spokesperson says, amid concerns Kremlin is seeking more state control via messaging apps such as Max Russia has attempted to “fully block” WhatsApp in an attempt to push users towards its own state-sponsored communications app, Max, a spokesperson for the Meta-owned company has said. The company did not reveal more detail on what extent the attempt succeeded or what action was taken to try to block the app..

What It Means for 100 Million Users

WhatsApp remains Russia’s most widely used messaging service with over 100 million users Russia attempted to ‘fully block’ WhatsApp, Meta-owned company saystheguardian.com·SecondaryMove is a ‘backwards step’, company spokesperson says, amid concerns Kremlin is seeking more state control via messaging apps such as Max Russia has attempted to “fully block” WhatsApp in an attempt to push users towards its own state-sponsored communications app, Max, a spokesperson for the Meta-owned company has said. The company did not reveal more detail on what extent the attempt succeeded or what action was taken to try to block the app.. State-run news agency TASS had reported earlier in the year that WhatsApp was expected to be permanently blocked in Russia in 2026, suggesting the move was long planned rather than reactive.

For ordinary Russians, the block means relying on VPNs to access WhatsApp — tools that are themselves subject to periodic crackdowns — or migrating to state-approved platforms where communications may be subject to government scrutiny.

The pattern mirrors strategies employed by China and Iran, where governments have replaced foreign communication tools with domestic alternatives that operate under state oversight. Russia’s approach differs in pace: rather than a single decisive block, Moscow has pursued a gradual strangulation of foreign platforms while building up MAX as the sanctioned replacement.

Looking Ahead

The standoff leaves little room for compromise. Meta has shown no indication of willingness to comply with Russian data-sharing demands, which would effectively require surrendering user privacy to Russian security services. Moscow, for its part, has made clear that anything short of full compliance means permanent exclusion.

For Russia’s 100 million WhatsApp users, the message is unambiguous: the sovereign internet is no longer an aspiration. It is arriving, one blocked app at a time.