Roskomnadzor, the Russian agency for communications and mass media oversight, has partially restricted the operation of WhatsApp and Telegram in southern Russia to combat fraud and criminal activities.

Roskomnadzor commented on the issues faced by WhatsApp and Telegram users, stating that the partial restriction measures for these applications are necessary to combat crimes. The agency emphasized that, according to law enforcement authorities, these platforms are frequently used for fraud, extortion, and sabotage activities. Since August 13, calls through these applications have been restricted, and on October 22, Roskomnadzor's deputy head, Oleg Terliakov, announced that these measures have led to a 40% reduction in fraudulent calls. Terliakov also highlighted the importance of preventing the fraudulent use of the Russian messaging app Max.