- About 20 Russian telecommunications companies have signed a moratorium to stop the expansion of communication channels to Europe.
- The bandwidth freeze aims to limit VPN use by forcing operators to filter traffic or introduce an “economic filter” on international data.
- Over 20 of Russia’s biggest websites have also started restricting access for users with active VPN connections.
Russia’s ongoing war on digital privacy has taken a serious structural turn. According to new reports, approximately 20 Russian telecommunications companies that own international communication channels have signed a moratorium to freeze their expansion into Europe.
The move is a direct attack on internet freedom. By artificially limiting the bandwidth of cross-border data channels, the state intends to choke off the very networks required to run the best VPN services, leaving citizens increasingly isolated from the global internet.
As described by local media RBC and Meduza, VPN use on telecom networks is recorded as foreign traffic. With fixed bandwidth, the natural growth of international data will eventually saturate existing lines.
The moratorium was reportedly signed after meetings with Maksut Shadayev, head of the Ministry of Digital Development. Telecom operators including MTS, VimpelCom (Beeline), T2 Mobile and Transtelecom were among the participants.
Introduction of an “economic filter”
By refusing to expand international infrastructure, the burden of censorship shifts directly onto the telecommunications industry. A source told RBC:
“Finally, telecom operators will try to combat VPNs whose traffic appears to be foreign on the network: they will either try to filter it or increase the cost of accessing foreign services, in other words, they will ‘impose an economic filter’.”
Authorities also hope that this fabricated bottleneck will empower foreign digital platforms to set up local servers within Russian borders to prevent their users from experiencing severe download speed drops.
Moreover, Forbes recently reported that the ministry proposed to impose fees on mobile users who consume more than 15 GB of international data per month, a measure expected to be implemented on May 1.
A technical setback on several fronts
This infrastructure freeze is only part of a wider campaign against circumvention tools. As of April 1, Russia’s “big four” operators disabled the ability to pay for Apple IDs via mobile bills to disrupt VPN subscriptions, especially as the ministry noted that VPN detection on iPhones is “significantly limited.”
In addition, over 20 of the country’s most popular websites, including Yandex, VK and Sber, are now required to restrict access if a user has a VPN enabled.
“Essentially, this is a fight against VPNs using the platforms and their advanced technical means,” an RBC source explained.
Are VPNs still a viable option?
Despite the aggressive measures, officials maintain there is no outright ban. Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov stated:
“There is currently no prohibition against this matter, and there is no liability for the use of it intended.”
However, Shadayev admitted on the Max messenger app that it was considering punishing users.
“The issue of introducing administrative sanctions for VPN use was discussed in the chat. This is a blunt solution that we categorically reject,” he wrote.
“The measures being discussed today are a difficult compromise. Of course we all understand the consequences, but all other options are much worse.”
For users navigating this increasingly hostile landscape, it’s more important than ever to understand how to survive the Russia VPN crash.
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