- Russia reportedly began restricting Telegram over the weekend
- Access is not yet completely down, but full blocking is expected in April
- Some VPN apps are still helping Russian Telegram users get back online
Russia reportedly began restricting Telegram over the weekend as the government moved to shut down the country’s most popular messaging service.
Although access is not completely down yet, a full block is expected in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, some VPN apps are still successfully helping Russian users stay online.
This follows an increase in complaints over the weekend across the Downdetector and Sboi.rf platforms. According to the reports, users across Russia are unable to open the app, send messages or load media.
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However, outcomes currently appear inconsistent, with functionality varying by location and network type. The latest data from OONI (Open Observatory of Network Interference) indicates that some connections are still working as expected.
Authorities claim the blocks are necessary because Telegram failed to protect personal data and fight criminal activity, but CEO Pavel Durov claims the move is a political attempt to force citizens into MAX, a state-controlled alternative.
Are VPNs still effective against Telegram restrictions?
VPN services are usually a quick solution to these types of blocks, thanks to their IP spoofing capabilities that allow users to appear as if they are browsing from another country.
However, using a VPN in Russia is becoming an increasingly complex game of cat and mouse.
Last week, government official Andrey Svintsov claimed that Roskomnadzor now possesses the technical capability to selectively restrict VPN traffic. He argued that Telegram eventually won’t work even with an active VPN.
Despite these threats, some providers remain optimistic. Alexis Roussel, COO of NymVPN, reported on X that their product is still successful in accessing Telegram in Russia. Google Trends data also shows a massive increase in searches for “VPN” over the weekend, suggesting that Russian citizens are actively seeking solutions.
While Roskomnadzor has entered a more sophisticated phase of censorship, the battle is far from over. For now, at least, it seems that some VPN providers are one step ahead.
TechRadar has reached out to Russian provider Amnezia VPN for further insight and will update this page as we receive more information
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