Russia to restrict the operation of Telegram and WhatsApp messengers

The Russian regulator has confirmed restrictions on calls in Telegram and WhatsApp within the country.

The Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media in Russia, better known as Roskomnadzor, reported that calls in the messengers Telegram and WhatsApp will be restricted from August 11 to 14, 2025.

The agency explained the restrictions by stating that the messengers have become “the main voice services used for fraud and extortion, and for involving Russian citizens in sabotage and terrorist activities.”

Roskomnadzor stated that the owners of the messengers ignored the Russian authorities’ demands for “countermeasures.”

The Russian authorities announced that access to calls in Telegram and WhatsApp will be restored after the messengers comply with Russian legislation. They believe that restricting calls in these applications will positively impact the reduction of calls from scammers.

According to WhatsApp, more than 100 million people use the service in Russia every month. The company views the restrictions as an attempt by the authorities to weaken the protection of private correspondence, noting that the messenger “resists attempts by governments to violate people’s right to secure communication.”

In a statement to the TASS agency, Telegram’s press service said that the messenger actively counteracts malicious actions, including calls for fraud, sabotage, and violence. This statement was in response to a question about the blocking of calls in the Russian Federation. The company clarified that moderators, using artificial intelligence and machine learning, proactively monitor public sections of the platform and delete millions of harmful posts daily.

It should be noted that messaging and other functions of these messengers remain unchanged.

Telegram and WhatsApp are among the most popular messengers among migrants, as they primarily use these applications to communicate with their families and loved ones.