Russia has moved to restrict access to Telegram, one of the country’s most widely used messaging and social media platforms, in a development that signals Moscow’s continuing efforts to assert tighter control over the digital space.
Telegram, founded in 2013 by Russian-born entrepreneur Pavel Durov, has long occupied a unique position in Russia’s online ecosystem. With hundreds of millions of users globally and a significant audience inside Russia, the app functions not only as a private messaging service but also as a powerful broadcasting tool for news outlets, government agencies, military bloggers, and opposition voices.
Russian users have reported disruptions and limitations in accessing certain Telegram features, with some regions experiencing slower connectivity or partial service blocks. While authorities have not always labelled the move a full ban, regulatory pressure has intensified.
Roskomnadzor, Russia’s federal communications watchdog, has previously taken action against digital platforms that fail to comply with national data storage laws, content removal orders, or information-sharing requirements with security services. Telegram has historically been at the centre of these disputes.
Russian authorities argue that restrictions are linked to national security and compliance with domestic laws. Officials have repeatedly emphasized the need to prevent the spread of extremist content, misinformation, and materials deemed harmful to state stability, especially amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Under Russia’s expanded internet legislation in recent years, platforms are required to remove content considered illegal under Russian law and, in some cases, store user data on servers located within the country. Failure to comply can result in fines, bandwidth throttling, or access restrictions.
In 2018, Russia attempted to block Telegram after the company refused to hand over encryption keys to the Federal Security Service (FSB). The ban proved technically ineffective and caused widespread disruption to unrelated online services. In 2020, authorities officially lifted the ban after signalling improved cooperation.
Despite that reconciliation, tensions have resurfaced periodically, particularly as Telegram became a major channel for uncensored war reporting, independent journalism, and commentary from pro-war military bloggers, some of whom have criticized the Kremlin’s military strategy.
Telegram is more than a messaging app in Russia. It has evolved into a hybrid platform that blends private chats, large public channels, and media publishing. Government ministries use it to disseminate official statements, while independent journalists rely on it to bypass traditional media restrictions.
For many Russians, Telegram remains one of the few digital spaces where relatively diverse viewpoints circulate, although even there, state-linked narratives are increasingly dominant.
Restricting access, even partially, could significantly reshape how information flows inside the country.
The move aligns with Russia’s broader push toward what officials call “digital sovereignty.” Since 2019, the Kremlin has developed technical infrastructure aimed at isolating the Russian internet, often referred to as “Runet”, from the global web if necessary.
Major Western platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly twitter) have already been blocked or restricted following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Domestic alternatives, often state-aligned, have been promoted as replacements.
Analysts say tightening control over Telegram may represent the next phase in consolidating state influence over online discourse.
It remains unclear whether Russia intends to impose a full ban or continue using selective technical measures to pressure Telegram into deeper compliance.
Much may depend on how the company responds to regulatory demands and how central Telegram remains to wartime communication strategies, both for the state and for influential military-affiliated bloggers.
For now, the restrictions underscore a familiar pattern: as geopolitical tensions intensify, the battle over information, who controls it, who distributes it, and who can access it, continues to move to the centre of Russia’s domestic policy.
