Russia has imposed restrictions on voice calls made through WhatsApp and Telegram, in what officials describe as an effort to curb criminal activity. The move, announced on Wednesday by the country’s media and internet regulator, Roskomnadzor, marks the latest measure in Moscow’s tightening control over online communications.
The ban is expected to affect WhatsApp’s estimated 96 million monthly users in Russia and Telegram’s 89 million users, according to media monitoring service Mediascope. While the restrictions officially target voice calls, users report that video calls have also been disrupted.
Roskomnadzor accused both platforms of refusing to cooperate with law enforcement requests for data access. “Foreign messengers Telegram and WhatsApp have become the main voice services used to deceive and extort money, and to involve Russian citizens in sabotage and terrorist activities,” the regulator said, citing “numerous appeals from citizens” and security agencies.
The agency said access to calls will be restored once the companies comply with Russian legislation, which requires granting law enforcement access to user data.
The restrictions come amid broader measures to tighten state control over the internet since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Authorities have accused Ukraine of using Telegram to recruit operatives and coordinate sabotage. In July 2025, Moscow introduced a law criminalising searches for online content deemed illegal, and it is developing a domestic messaging platform, Max, which critics warn could allow state surveillance of private communications.
WhatsApp condemned the move, saying the encrypted app “defies government attempts to violate people’s right to secure communication.” Telegram also defended its moderation efforts, stating it removes “millions of pieces of harmful content every day” and actively combats fraud, sabotage, and calls for violence.
Telegram, founded by Russian-born entrepreneur Pavel Durov, has faced similar scrutiny in other countries over alleged inaction on criminal activity.
