Russia Intensifies Restrictions on Telegram, Sparking Criticism

Moscow is increasing pressure on the messaging app Telegram, leading to widespread criticism from various segments of Russian society, including soldiers, pro-war bloggers, and activists. The move comes as the Kremlin seeks greater control over the digital landscape and promotes a domestically developed alternative.

Escalating Restrictions and Blocking of Channels

As of Sunday, February 16, 2026, Telegram reported blocking 253,974 channels and groups, marking the highest daily number of blocks since January 23, 2026, when 348,631 were blocked . Throughout February, the platform has blocked a total of 1,856,069 channels and groups, and over 7.27 million so far this year. This includes 27,282 communities identified as being linked to terrorism and 77,472 containing child sexual abuse content.

Roskomnadzor’s Actions and Regulatory Concerns

Russia’s communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, has been imposing increasing restrictions on Telegram, accusing the service of violating Russian laws . These actions include throttling the platform’s speed, causing sluggish traffic and delayed downloads . The restrictions have raised concerns about censorship, particularly from Amnesty International and Telegram founder Pavel Durov.

Criticism and Concerns Over “Sovereign Internet”

The crackdown has drawn criticism from a broad spectrum of Russian society. Soldiers, pro-war bloggers, lifestyle influencers, and exiled opposition figures have voiced concerns about the impact on communication and information access . The move aligns with the Kremlin’s broader goal of establishing a “sovereign internet” – a controlled online environment isolated from Western influence.

Rise of State-Backed Alternative: Max

Concurrently, Russian officials are promoting Max, a state-backed “super-app” modeled after China’s WeChat, as a domestic alternative to foreign messaging platforms. The push for Max suggests a deliberate effort to shift users towards a platform more easily monitored and controlled by the government.

Telegram’s Continued Employ in Russia

Despite the restrictions, Telegram remains a widely used platform in Russia, with over 60 million daily users . It remains unclear whether Moscow will ultimately block Telegram entirely or continue to employ throttling tactics to pressure the company into greater cooperation with authorities.

Previous Blocks and Unblocking

Russia previously blocked Telegram from April 16, 2018, to June 19, 2020, due to concerns over its encryption and data storage practices. The initial blocking had limited impact on the platform’s availability within Russia . The ban was lifted after Telegram reportedly agreed to cooperate with investigations into extremism.