Russia Access to Social Media WhatsApp and YouTube Fully Blocked by Moscow. Russia Limits Access to Social Media Platform Telegram as It Pushes State-Run ‘Super-App’ Called Max
Across the globe, social media platforms continue to face increasing pressure from governments seeking greater control over online communication, raising concerns about the future of free expression.
A recent example comes from Russia.
After previously banning or restricting access to U.S.-based platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X, and limiting YouTube’s reach, Russian authorities have now begun targeting Telegram — a widely used messaging app popular among Russian soldiers, journalists, and war correspondents.
🔥 «Who is slowing down Telegram? Go to the front line»
Pro-Kremlin politicians are clashing over restrictions on Telegram in Russia.
Sergey Mironov, a member of Russia’s parliament and a strong supporter of the war, publicly criticized the move to slow down or block the… pic.twitter.com/Gmk5ZN6wWX
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 11, 2026
After the Russian authorities restrict access to messaging app Telegram, one Russian MP calls the measure ’Defence of the information frontline…one of the components in the battle between Russia & Nato.’ The restriction widely reported in today’s Russian papers. #ReadingRussia pic.twitter.com/KWAZ0TEljS
— Steve Rosenberg (@BBCSteveR) February 11, 2026
On the 11th, Russia’s communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, began taking steps to limit access to Telegram. According to Bloomberg:
“Measures to slow down access to the messenger service have already begun,” the news service reported, citing an unidentified source familiar with the situation. RBC said it sent a request for comment to Roskomnadzor.
At the same time, the government has been promoting a state-run ‘super-app’ called Max, modeled after China’s WeChat. In addition to messaging, Max offers government services, document storage, banking functions, and other public and commercial services, as authorities have reduced access to foreign messaging platforms.”
Russia is restricting access to Telegram to force its citizens onto a state-controlled app built for surveillance and political censorship. This authoritarian move won’t change our course. Telegram stands for freedom and privacy, no matter the pressure.
— Pavel Durov (@durov) February 10, 2026
WhatsApp has been fully blocked in Russia, with its domain removed from Roskomnadzor’s DNS database, completely cutting off access.
YouTube also disappeared from the database yesterday and is now only reachable via VPN.
These steps likely aim to free up resources to further… pic.twitter.com/zuAZvghXzj
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) February 11, 2026
BREAKING:
The Russian government has begun blocking YouTube.
A total iron curtain is being prepared for the population. pic.twitter.com/6v2sMJR1V1
— Astraia Intel (@astraiaintel) February 10, 2026
Bloomberg also reported that Russian authorities began imposing selective restrictions on Telegram in late 2025, including limits on certain features such as voice and video calls on the platform co-founded by Pavel Durov.
Update: Russia has now fully banned WhatsApp and YouTube as well.
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