Telegram shutdown begins in Russia — here's everything we know

• Russia has reportedly begun restricting Telegram over the weekend
• Access isn't completely down as yet, but full blockage is expected in April
• Some VPN apps are still helping Russian Telegram users to go back online

Russia reportedly started restricting Telegram over the weekend as the government moves to shutter the nation's most popular messaging service.

While access is not completely down yet, a full blockage is expected in the coming weeks. In the meantime, some VPN apps are still successfully helping Russian users stay online.

This follows a surge in complaints over the weekend across the Downdetector and Sboi.rf platforms. According to the reports, users across Russia are unable to open the app, send messages, or load media.

However, the outages currently seem inconsistent, with functionality varying by location and network type. The latest data from OONI (Open Observatory of Network Interference) indicates that some connections are still working as expected.

Authorities claim the blocks are necessary because Telegram failed to safeguard personal data and combat criminal activities, but CEO Pavel Durov argues the move is a political attempt to force citizens onto MAX, a state-controlled alternative.

Are VPNs still effective against Telegram restrictions?

VPN services are normally a quick solution to these types of blocks, thanks to their IP-spoofing capabilities that mean users can appear as if they are browsing from a different country.

However, using a VPN in Russia is becoming an increasingly complex game of cat-and-mouse.

Last week, government official Andrey Svintsov claimed that Roskomnadzor now possesses the technical capability to selectively restrict VPN traffic. He argued that Telegram will eventually fail to work even with a VPN active.

Despite these threats, some providers remain optimistic. Alexis Roussel, COO of NymVPN, reported on X that their product is still successfully accessing Telegram within Russia. Google Trends data also shows a massive spike in searches for "VPN" over the weekend, suggesting that Russian citizens are actively seeking workarounds.

While Roskomnadzor has entered a more sophisticated phase of censorship, the battle is far from over. For now, at least, it seems some VPN providers are staying one step ahead.

TechRadar has reached out to the Russian provider Amnezia VPN for further insight and will update this page as we receive more information

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