Russia has fully blocked access to the U.S.-owned messaging service WhatsApp after the company failed to meet domestic regulatory requirements, the Kremlin confirmed on Thursday, directing users toward a state-backed alternative known as MAX.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the restriction had been “made and implemented” because Meta Platforms, the parent company of WhatsApp, had not complied with Russian law.
Speaking to reporters, he described MAX as “an accessible alternative, a developing messenger, a national messenger, and it is available on the market for citizens as an alternative.”
The decision marks the most far-reaching step yet in a months-long tightening of controls on the platform, which is used by an estimated 100 million people in Russia.
Access to WhatsApp services had already been limited since late last year, but Thursday’s move effectively renders the application unusable inside the country without technical workarounds such as virtual private networks (VPNs).
Technical indicators suggested a coordinated enforcement action. Several internet domain names linked to WhatsApp were removed from Russia’s national register, a database that internet service providers rely on to route traffic.
As a result, devices within Russia no longer receive the necessary IP address information to connect to the service, according to industry specialists. Users reported being unable to send messages or place calls unless connected through VPN services.
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Roskomnadzor, the federal communications regulator that oversees internet controls, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The agency has previously accused WhatsApp and other foreign platforms of violating Russian legislation by failing to remove prohibited content and by not cooperating with law enforcement agencies in investigations involving fraud and terrorism.
In August, Roskomnadzor began restricting certain functions of WhatsApp and other messaging applications, including voice calls, after asserting that foreign-owned services were not sharing information required in criminal cases.
In December, the regulator announced additional measures to gradually curb WhatsApp’s operations, alleging the platform was being used “to organise and carry out terrorist acts on the territory of the country, to recruit their perpetrators and to commit fraud and other crimes.”
Russian courts have repeatedly imposed fines on WhatsApp for failing to delete content deemed illegal under national law. Authorities have also said the company must establish a local representative office in Russia to comply with legislation that requires major foreign technology firms to maintain a legal presence in the country. WhatsApp does not have such an office.
Meta was designated an extremist organisation in Russia in 2022, a move that followed the company’s decision to allow certain forms of political expression related to the conflict in Ukraine. Facebook and Instagram, also owned by Meta, were subsequently banned. WhatsApp, which offers encrypted messaging services, had continued to operate but faced growing scrutiny.
In a statement issued earlier, WhatsApp said the Russian government had sought to “fully block WhatsApp in an effort to drive people to a state-owned surveillance app.” The company added: “Trying to isolate over 100 million users from private and secure communication is a backwards step and can only lead to less safety for people in Russia.”
Russian officials have rejected accusations that MAX is designed for surveillance.
Authorities say the application integrates access to various government-related services and is intended to streamline interactions between citizens and state institutions.
Critics, including digital rights advocates, have raised concerns that concentrating communications within a state-controlled platform could increase monitoring capabilities, an assertion officials deny.
The ban on WhatsApp fits into a broader policy direction pursued by Moscow in recent years to assert greater control over the domestic internet. Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022, the government has accelerated efforts to build what it describes as a “sovereign” digital infrastructure.
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That strategy has involved tightening data localisation rules, expanding censorship powers, and limiting the operations of foreign technology firms that do not comply with Russian regulations.
Several major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube, face restrictions or blocks in Russia.
Telegram, a messaging service founded by Russian-born entrepreneur Pavel Durov, remains accessible but has also been subject to regulatory pressure and fines.
Despite the constraints, many Russians have continued to use blocked services through VPNs, which allow users to route internet traffic through servers outside the country.
However, authorities have stepped up measures against VPN providers as well, seeking to curtail access to banned content.
For businesses, civil society groups and individuals, WhatsApp has been a primary communication channel for both personal and professional exchanges.
Analysts say its removal may prompt a migration toward domestic platforms or alternative foreign services, depending on enforcement intensity and the availability of circumvention tools.
The Kremlin has framed the move as a legal matter rather than a political decision, citing non-compliance with statutory requirements. It has not provided details on any conditions under which the block could be lifted.
As of Thursday, the restriction appeared to be in full effect nationwide. Roskomnadzor has previously said it would continue to monitor compliance by digital platforms and would apply further measures if violations persist.