The Russian government has begun to restrict Telegram, slowing down the operation of the application and causing interruptions in several regions.

Telegram is an essential channel for communications in Russia, used by news sources, including the Kremlin and the opposition in exile. Recently, the Russian government has begun to partially restrict the service, causing significant slowdowns in the application's functionality. Roskomnadzor has confirmed that it will start to slow down Telegram, claiming that the application facilitates illegal activities. Users from various regions, including Moscow and Siberia, have reported issues with loading media files.

Restrictions on Telegram began in 2025, when calls through the application were blocked, and users complained of delays and difficulties in accessing the service. Russian authorities intend to impose significant fines for non-compliance with legislation, and the Kremlin is developing a national digital platform that could allow for user surveillance. In the context of the restrictions, many Russians are resorting to VPNs to bypass censorship and access blocked applications.