A period of major restrictions has begun in Russia’s digital space. According to the latest data, the activity of the Telegram messenger in the country is facing a record level of disruptions. Zamin.uz analyzed the situation based on international research and user complaints.
95 percent anomaly: will the messenger’s operation be restored?
The research project “Agency”, citing OONI data, reports that on Friday, April 10, the anomaly indicator related to Telegram blocking in Russia rose to 95%. This figure has become the highest point in the history of the messenger and even exceeds the level of restrictions on platforms such as the officially banned Signal and WhatsApp (89%). Downdetector and “Sboy.rf” services recorded mass outages in message sending and application loading.
Timeline of restrictions: why is it being blocked?
Pressure on Telegram’s activity began in February 2026, amid claims that the messenger was not complying with local legislation requirements.
- August 2025: voice calls in messengers were restricted under the pretext of combating fraud.
- March 2026: providers moved to more active traffic blocking.
- April 2026: reports about plans for a full blocking of the messenger began to spread.
National messenger “Max” and cybersecurity
Alongside restrictions on international platforms, the Russian government is actively promoting its national project — the Max messenger. However, cybersecurity experts are expressing serious concerns about the safety of this new platform and the protection of personal data. Reuters agency described the situation as part of Russia’s large-scale campaign against VPNs and independent communication tools.
Pavel Durov’s response and legal pressure
The founder of the messenger, Pavel Durov, called the imposed restrictions “absurd” and stated that developers will continue to create more complex methods to protect against traffic blocking. At the same time, the situation escalated after a criminal case was opened against Durov in February 2026 on charges of “aiding terrorism.”
Public reaction
In several major Russian cities, activists attempted to hold protests against the blocking of Telegram. However, local authorities, citing various reasons, did not allow such mass gatherings, which increased dissatisfaction on social media.
The future of Telegram in Russia and how Durov’s team will overcome these “digital barriers” remains in the focus of the global community.
Dear readers, do you think blocking messengers really improves security, or is it a restriction of freedom of speech? Which messenger do you prefer to use?
