Russia Officially Begins Restricting Access to Telegram Messaging Platform
MOSCOW — The Russian federal communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, has officially initiated measures to restrict access to the Telegram messaging application as of Tuesday, February 10, 2026. The move marks a significant escalation in the Russian government’s control over the digital information space and targets one of the country’s most widely used communication platforms.
According to a statement released by the regulator, the restrictions are being implemented because Telegram has allegedly failed to comply with Russian legislation. Roskomnadzor cited the platform’s refusal to remove prohibited content and its alleged failure to take sufficient measures against fraud, extortion, and the use of the app by “terrorist and criminal elements.” The agency stated it would continue to impose “consistent restrictions” until the violations are rectified.
While a total blackout of the service has not been immediately observed, users across Russia, particularly in Moscow and St. Petersburg, have reported widespread disruptions. Data from outage monitoring services, such as Downdetector and Sboy.rf, recorded a sharp spike in complaints beginning early Tuesday. Users have described significant throttling, resulting in slow connection speeds, the inability to download photos and videos, and intermittent failures to send messages.
This action follows a pattern of increasing digital isolationism in Russia. In late 2025, authorities placed similar restrictions on Western-owned platforms, including WhatsApp and Apple’s FaceTime. Simultaneous with these restrictions, the Russian government has been aggressively promoting “MAX,” a state-backed domestic messaging alternative. Critics and digital rights advocates argue that the push toward state-controlled apps is intended to facilitate mass surveillance, as platforms like MAX are integrated with government services and lack the end-to-end encryption guarantees of their international competitors.
The restriction of Telegram is particularly notable given the platform’s unique role in Russian society. Founded by Russian-born entrepreneur Pavel Durov, Telegram has been the primary source of unfiltered news for millions of Russians. Paradoxically, it is also heavily relied upon by the Kremlin’s own propaganda apparatus, government officials, and the influential community of “milbloggers” (military bloggers) who provide updates on the war in Ukraine.
This is not the first time Moscow has attempted to curb Telegram. In 2018, the government attempted a total ban on the platform, which resulted in significant collateral damage to the Russian internet infrastructure while failing to actually block the app. The ban was eventually lifted in 2020. It remains unclear whether the current “restrictions” will evolve into a full-scale blockage or remain a throttling measure designed to degrade user experience and force a migration to domestic alternatives.
In addition to the technical restrictions, state media reported that Telegram faces pending court hearings with potential fines totaling up to 64 million rubles (approximately $830,000) for its continued non-compliance with Russian data laws. Telegram has not yet issued an official comment regarding the new restrictions.
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