Russia has begun partially restricting calls made through Telegram , a measure announced by the communications regulator Roskomnadzor with the stated aim of curbing online crime. According to authorities, other functions of the service, such as messaging, remain operational.
The Ministry of Digital Development indicated that the restrictions apply to audio calls and that access can be restored if the platform complies with Russian regulations . This move comes after widespread user complaints about call failures and is part of a broader tightening of state control over the digital ecosystem.
What Roskomnadzor has decided and why
The regulatory body asserts that, according to reports from law enforcement and numerous citizen complaints , Telegram has become a preferred channel for scams, extortion , and even for recruiting individuals into activities considered sabotage and terrorism . Roskomnadzor maintains that its repeated requests to implement countermeasures have gone unanswered.
The restriction, according to the official version, focuses on voice communications , with no other blocks planned for the app. Meanwhile, incident monitoring services registered thousands of reports related to failed calls on Telegram in recent hours, with peaks around mid-morning.
Authorities add that an anti-fraud system has been operating since 2024 , blocking calls from fake numbers on traditional telephone networks, and that some criminal traffic has shifted to couriers , which would justify the new crackdown on calls within the platform.
Roskomnadzor has left the door open to reversing the block if the company complies with the requirements , which include cooperating with official requests and complying with local legislation on data and content.
Telegram's response and the legal front
Telegram states that it actively combats the misuse of its platform and removes thousands of harmful pieces of content daily , in accordance with its internal policies. The company maintains that it has reporting channels and takes action against abuse when it detects violations of its rules.
The standoff with the authorities has escalated: a Moscow court fined Telegram 10,5 million rubles for, among other things, refusing to locate data on Russian citizens and failing to remove content deemed prohibited under local law. In Russia, for example, material that incites hatred or violates its rules on family values ​​is banned , among other categories.
A long history of clashes and more control over the internet
The Kremlin's relationship with messaging is not new: between 2018 and 2020, attempts were made to block Telegram without success, and since 2022 the country has tightened its digital control framework, with bans on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram and measures to monitor and direct online traffic.
Over the past year, there have been widespread mobile connection outages, and work is underway on a whitelist of essential services accessible during blackouts. In regions like Crimea , mobile internet disruptions could continue indefinitely, directly impacting the daily use of apps like Telegram.
While some users resort to VPNs to circumvent restrictions, these tools are also periodically blocked, making it difficult to maintain stable communication through the app in certain areas and times.
MAX, the national alternative that is gaining prominence
The government is promoting MAX , a messaging app developed by VK that aims to serve as a one-stop shop for messaging, payments, and public services . The app is currently in beta, surpassed two million registrations in July, and by law must come pre-installed on all new smartphones sold in the country.
Its terms stipulate sharing data with authorities upon official request, and public bodies and companies are encouraged to migrate their communications to the platform. In this context, lawmakers have even suggested that some foreign services should prepare to withdraw from the Russian market, increasing pressure on Telegram 's use.
How it affects Telegram users in Russia
For those who rely on the app, the main change is the limitation of voice calls : chats and file sharing will continue to function normally. With a user base exceeding 89 million monthly active users in the country, any disruption to call capacity impacts the daily lives and work of millions of people.
Authorities link the partial block to the surge in phone fraud , which in 2024 affected hundreds of thousands of citizens and caused millions in losses . The option to recover the calls depends on Telegram complying with Russian regulatory requirements ; however, this creates uncertainty about the service's future.
