Moscow chokes international internet bandwidth in latest attack on Russian VPN users

• Around 20 Russian telecom companies have signed a moratorium to halt the expansion of communication channels to Europe.
• The bandwidth freeze aims to curb VPN usage by forcing operators to filter traffic or introduce an "economic filter" on international data.
• Over 20 of Russia's largest websites have also begun restricting access for users with active VPN connections.

Russia's ongoing war against digital privacy has taken a severe structural turn. According to new reports, approximately 20 Russian telecom companies owning international communication channels have signed a moratorium freezing their expansion into Europe.

The move is a direct attack on internet freedom. By artificially capping the bandwidth of cross-border data channels, the state intends to choke the very networks required to run the best VPN services, leaving citizens increasingly isolated from the global internet.

As detailed by local media outlets RBC and Meduza, VPN usage registers on telecom networks as foreign traffic. With bandwidth fixed, the natural growth in international data will eventually saturate existing lines.

The moratorium was reportedly signed following meetings with Maksut Shadayev, head of the Ministry of Digital Development. Telecom operators including MTS, VimpelCom (Beeline), T2 Mobile, and Transtelecom were among the participants.

Imposing an 'economic filter'

By refusing to expand international infrastructure, the burden of censorship shifts directly onto the telecom industry. One source told RBC:

"Ultimately, telecom operators will try to combat VPNs whose traffic appears foreign on the network: they will either try to filter it or increase the cost of accessing foreign services, in other words, they will 'impose an economic filter.'"

Authorities also hope this manufactured bottleneck will strong-arm foreign digital platforms into setting up local servers within Russian borders to prevent their users from experiencing severe download speed drops.

Furthermore, Forbes recently reported that the Ministry proposed imposing fees on mobile users consuming more than 15 GB of international data per month, a measure expected to be implemented by May 1.

A multi-front technical crackdown

This infrastructure freeze is just one piece of a broader campaign against circumvention tools. Starting April 1, Russia's "big four" operators disabled the ability to pay for Apple IDs via mobile bills to disrupt VPN subscriptions, particularly as the Ministry noted that VPN detection on iPhones is "significantly limited."

Additionally, over 20 of the country's most popular websites, including Yandex, VK, and Sber, are now required to restrict access if a user has a VPN enabled.

"Essentially, this is a fight against VPNs using the platforms and their advanced technical means," an RBC source explained.

Are VPNs still a viable option?

Despite the aggressive measures, officials maintain that no outright bans are in place. Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov stated:

"There are currently no bans on this matter, and no liability for its use is envisaged."

However, Shadayev admitted on the Max messenger app that punishing users was considered.

"The issue of introducing administrative penalties for VPN use was discussed in the chat. This is a blunt solution, which we categorically disapprove of," he wrote.

"The measures being discussed today are a difficult compromise. Of course, we understand all the consequences, but all other options are much worse."

For users navigating this increasingly hostile landscape, understanding how to survive Russia's VPN crackdown is more vital than ever.

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