Record-breaking outages of the Telegram messenger are being observed in Russia
The situation regarding internet freedom in Russia's digital space is escalating. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
Recent observations indicate that the operation of the Telegram messenger in the country has encountered record-level obstacles. Analysis based on international research and mass complaints from users revealed serious disruptions in the messenger's activity.
According to data from an OONI research project, anomalies related to Telegram in Russia reached 95 percent in April. This figure is the highest point in the messenger's history, facing even stronger obstacles than the Signal and WhatsApp apps, which had previously been restricted.
Downdetector and other technical services confirmed mass problems with sending messages and loading the application. Pressure on Telegram intensified starting from February 2026.
Officials claim that the messenger is not complying with local legislative requirements. In particular, voice calls were restricted in August 2025 under the pretext of fighting fraud.
In March 2026, providers began blocking traffic more actively, and in April, the issue of completely blocking the platform came to the agenda. While fighting against international platforms, the Russian government is promoting its own national project, the Max messenger.
However, cybersecurity experts are expressing serious concerns regarding the security and privacy of personal data on this new platform. International experts evaluate this as part of a large-scale struggle against VPNs and independent communication tools.
Messenger founder Pavel Durov called the introduced restrictions groundless and stated that developers will continue to use complex methods to protect traffic from blocking. Meanwhile, the situation was further complicated by the initiation of a criminal case against Durov on charges of aiding terrorism.
Although activists in Russia's major cities attempted to express protest against the blockade, official permission was not granted. Currently, the international community is closely monitoring what will happen to Telegram in Russia and how Durov's team will overcome these digital barriers.
