Russia has moved to restrict voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, intensifying its control over online communications in the country.
The decision, announced Wednesday by the state media and internet regulator, Roskomnadzor, targets WhatsApp’s estimated 96 million monthly Russian users and Telegram’s 89 million users, according to media analytics firm Mediascope. Authorities say the measure is aimed at curbing criminal activity.
“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 stated, citing law enforcement reports and citizen complaints. Roskomnadzor accused the platforms of ignoring repeated requests to assist authorities and demanded they provide law enforcement access to user data.
The agency said call services will be restored once the companies comply with Russian laws. While the official ban applies only to voice calls, users have reported disruptions to video calls as well.
The move follows Moscow’s growing online restrictions since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russian officials claim Telegram has been used for recruitment and coordination of sabotage operations by Ukraine. In July 2025, a new law criminalised searches for content deemed illegal by the government, and plans are underway to replace foreign messaging apps with a domestic platform called “Max,” which critics say could give the state unrestricted access to private communications.
WhatsApp, in a statement, condemned the move, calling it an attempt to “violate people’s right to secure communication,” while Telegram said it actively works to combat platform abuse, removing “millions of pieces of harmful content every day.”
Telegram, created by Russian-born entrepreneur Pavel Durov, has faced similar criticism in other countries for allegedly failing to act against illegal activity.
Source: Sahara Reporters
