WhatsApp usage in Russia is being gradually restricted

The Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) has announced that it has begun gradually restricting the use of the WhatsApp messenger within the country. This was reported by Zamin.uz.

According to the organization, this messenger is being used for coordinating terrorist attacks, recruiting criminals, fraud, and other illegal activities against Russian citizens. Roskomnadzor emphasized that the restrictions will be implemented gradually, providing users with the opportunity to switch to alternative services.

If WhatsApp fails to comply with the requirements set by Russian legislation, its operation may be completely suspended. Complaints about problems using WhatsApp first appeared at the end of November.

Earlier this year, Roskomnadzor also implemented measures to restrict voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram. According to the organization, criminals have intensified fraudulent calls and illegal recruitment activities through these platforms.

Additionally, the Russian Ministry of Digital Development stated that restricting voice calls on foreign messengers can help reduce fraud cases and improve communication security. However, despite the restrictions, WhatsApp remains the most popular messenger in Russia.

As of August 2025, its monthly users reached 97 million, and daily users reached 82.1 million.