Is WhatsApp Banned in Russia? Yes, Since Feb 2026 (Why)

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How Russia blocked WhatsApp

In August 2025, Roskomnadzor, Russia’s communications regulator, started blocking voice and video calls on WhatsApp and Telegram. It said the apps were used for fraud and terrorism and did not share information with police. Text chats kept working.

The full block followed on 12 February 2026. WhatsApp’s domains disappeared from Russia’s National Domain Name System, so phones inside the country stopped receiving the app’s server addresses. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that “a decision was indeed made and implemented”.

When	What changed for WhatsApp in Russia
August 2025	Voice and video calls restricted
12 February 2026	Removed from the national DNS; Kremlin confirms the block
Summer 2026	Patchy access reported on some networks; block not lifted
October 2026	Still blocked

Why Russia says it banned WhatsApp

The official reason is that WhatsApp did not follow Russian law. According to CNBC, Roskomnadzor had accused it of not storing Russian users’ data inside the country and of not doing enough to stop criminal use. On the same day, officials told Russians to switch to Max, a state-backed “national messenger”. WhatsApp called Max a surveillance app; the authorities deny that charge.

Does WhatsApp still work in Russia?

Officially, no. In practice, users and travel guides describe on-and-off access: since summer 2026 some messages get through without a VPN on certain networks, while calls and media often fail. Roskomnadzor has not announced any change to the block, so access can disappear without warning. If you are travelling to Russia, set up and test a backup way to stay in touch before you arrive.

Part of a wider messenger crackdown

WhatsApp was the last major Meta service still reachable. The Facebook block from March 2022 and the ban on Instagram came first, and YouTube was shut out in the same February week, as our Russia YouTube entry shows. Signal and Viber had already been blocked in 2024. Russia now sits alongside China, where WhatsApp has been unavailable since 2017. For the full picture, browse every app and website restricted in Russia.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Is WhatsApp banned in Russia?

Yes. Russia blocked WhatsApp on 12 February 2026, when the regulator Roskomnadzor removed its domains from the country's national domain name system. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the decision the same day. Since then most people in Russia have needed a VPN to use the app reliably, and the block has not been lifted.

Why did Russia block WhatsApp?

The Kremlin said WhatsApp did not comply with Russian law. Roskomnadzor had accused it of not storing Russian users' data inside the country and of not doing enough to stop fraud and terrorism. Officials then urged Russians to use Max, a state-backed messenger that critics describe as a surveillance tool.

When did Russia start restricting WhatsApp?

Restrictions began in August 2025, when Roskomnadzor started blocking voice and video calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, calling it an anti-fraud measure. Text chats kept working until the full block in February 2026, so the ban came in two stages about six months apart.

Does WhatsApp still work in Russia?

Only on and off. Since summer 2026, users and travel guides have reported that some messages get through without a VPN on certain networks, while calls and media often fail. Roskomnadzor has not lifted the block, so access can stop at any time. Do not rely on WhatsApp as your only contact method.

What app are Russians told to use instead of WhatsApp?

Officials point Russians to Max, a state-backed 'national messenger' promoted as the domestic replacement. WhatsApp called it a surveillance app, a claim the authorities deny. Telegram is the other big option, but Roskomnadzor also announced new Telegram restrictions in February 2026, so it is unreliable too.