Russia Attempts to Fully Cut Off WhatsApp, Pushes Over 100 Million Users Into State Surveillance App MAX

Russian authorities have moved to block WhatsApp across the country, an action Meta says has cut off more than 100 million users from end-to-end encrypted messaging.

“Russian regulators are pushing a state-developed app as an alternative to WhatsApp Russia has "attempted to fully block" WhatsApp in the country, the company said, as the Kremlin continues to tighten restrictions on messaging apps”

BBC

Roskomnadzor reportedly removed WhatsApp domains from Russia's national DNS, and several outlets say core functions were disabled for most users unless they used VPNs or other workarounds.

BBC

The disruption follows months of throttling and earlier limits on calling features, and it comes amid an intensifying standoff between Moscow and Meta that predates this move.

Moscow frames the move as regulatory enforcement and a response to national-security and law‑enforcement demands, and Kremlin officials have said WhatsApp could be unblocked if Meta complies with Russian laws and enters dialogue.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned there would be 'no chance' of an agreement if Meta remains uncompromising, while state media and officials justify tougher measures after Meta's 2022 designation in Russia.

CoinCentral

By contrast, Meta and privacy advocates describe the action as a deliberate attempt to funnel users to a Kremlin-backed messenger and to weaken end-to-end encryption protections.

Central to Moscow's digital strategy is the promotion of MAX, a government-backed 'super-app' developed by VK and frequently compared to China's WeChat.

“Russia has taken steps to restrict instant messaging services such as WhatsApp and Telegram”

digit.in

Reports say MAX bundles messaging, payments, document storage and government services.

The app has been required to be pre-installed on new devices since 2025.

Several outlets note that MAX reportedly lacks end-to-end encryption and that critics warn the app could enable greater state tracking.

Russian state media and officials reject claims that the platform is intended for surveillance.

Many Russians experienced outages, widespread difficulties with messaging and calls, and turned to VPNs to restore access.

The move is particularly disruptive because WhatsApp is one of the country's most widely used encrypted messengers, with Telegram having roughly comparable usage, and this balance could change if WhatsApp access remains curtailed.

EconoTimes

Observers warn that forcing millions onto domestic alternatives with weaker protections could reduce privacy and safety for ordinary users.

Observers place the blockade in a broader context of Moscow’s drive for information sovereignty since 2022.

“Russia has "tried to completely block" WhatsApp in the country, the company said, as the Kremlin continues to tighten restrictions on messaging apps”

Gazeta Express

In 2022 Meta was labeled an 'extremist organisation' in Russia, and Facebook and Instagram were blocked.

Gazeta Express

Regulators have pressured foreign platforms to localize data and cooperate with law enforcement, and several outlets warn the current escalation appears timed around political cycles to consolidate digital infrastructure under domestic control, though sources differ on how permanent or enforceable a complete WhatsApp ban will be.