Russia’s communications regulatory body, Roskomnadzor, has initiated a process of slowing down and restricting access to Telegram, the messaging application, as per a recent report by the Russian news source RBC. The Russian government is advocating for a state-endorsed alternative called Max in place of Telegram and Whatsapp.
The regulator has announced its intention to continue implementing what it terms as “progressive limitations” on the platform, citing Telegram’s alleged failure to adequately address fraudulent and criminal activities.
A recent report by Reuters highlights that users in Moscow have encountered service disruptions, including lags and connectivity issues. A user mentioned by the news agency expressed difficulties in keeping in touch with friends and family due to the restrictions, as many of them heavily rely on Telegram for communication.
These recent actions come on the heels of previous measures taken back in August 2025 when Roskomnadzor partially restricted voice calls on Telegram and WhatsApp. During that time, the regulator claimed that the services were being misused for extortion and activities associated with terrorism. Concurrently, Russian authorities mandated the pre-installation of a government-supported messaging app, Max, on smartphones and tablets sold within the country, according to the Reuters report.