- Windscribe confirmed approximately 90% reduction in traffic from Russia
- The provider is working to restore connectivity for affected users
- The Russian regulator is now build a new AI-based filtering system
Windscribe has confirmed a sudden, massive drop in traffic from Russia, reporting that the country’s internet censor, Roskomnadzor (RKN), has launched another aggressive wave of blocks against privacy tools.
This latest outage matches what the country’s experts told TechRadar: RKN has been redesigning its DPI-based filtering systems throughout 2025. This includes deploying more sophisticated, AI-driven methods to track down and shut down traffic from VPN services that could previously pass through the net.
For users in Russia, the situation is becoming increasingly precarious. Access to independent information, social media and encrypted communications largely depends on these tools, and each new wave of blockages further isolates the digital landscape behind the “Runet” curtain.
A 90% drop in traffic
“We are tracking a new wave of VPN blocking in Russia,” the company wrote on
This is not just a standard fluctuation in service; a 90% drop indicates a focused and highly effective effort by state regulators to sever connections that use obfuscation techniques
We are tracking a new wave of VPN blocking in Russia. Censorship circumvention infrastructure is experiencing a traffic drop of approximately 90%. Steps are being taken to remedy this problem. pic.twitter.com/S4zO6WIxRqJanuary 20, 2026
While Windscribe and other leading vendors are constantly updating their protocols to disguise traffic, making VPN data look like normal HTTPS browsing, Russian censors are simultaneously evolving their deep packet inspection (DPI) capabilities to detect these disguises.
However, the vendor confirmed that a patch was already in progress, noting: “Deployment of the solution has begun. We are seeing an increase in usage patterns.”
AI-based censorship: a new threat
The timing of this blockade does not appear to be a coincidence. According to a recent report from Forbes Russia, Roskomnadzor is building an automated system capable of using machine learning to filter internet traffic.
This development marks a dangerous shift in Internet regulation. Traditional blocking methods often relied on blacklisting specific IP addresses or known VPN protocols. However, an AI-based system can theoretically “learn” to recognize VPN traffic behavior patterns in real time, even when it is obfuscated.
This would allow the regulator to limit or break connections dynamically without the need to manually identify each new server launched by a VPN provider.
This latest crackdown follows a clear pattern of escalation. As TechRadar previously reported, Russia has systematically targeted VPNs and encrypted apps over the past few years. What started with blocking websites expanded to banning specific VPN providers, and eventually evolved into a legislative crackdown that criminalized the promotion of VPN services.
The targets have also expanded. It is no longer just political information sites that are in the crosshairs; censorship has seeped into everyday entertainment and gaming platforms, with services like Roblox and FaceTime facing intermittent restrictions as collateral damage in the state’s quest for total information control.
What can users do?
For now, the advice for Russian citizens remains the same: dismissal is the key. Relying on a single VPN service is risky in such a volatile environment.
Privacy experts often recommend installing multiple VPNs, prioritizing those with powerful obfuscation features. We then suggest that you consult our best free VPN page to download only the most secure freebies.
Although introducing AI filtering presents a significant technical challenge, vendors like Windscribe historically adapt quickly. As the vendor noted, solutions are already being rolled out, proving that even as the net of censorship tightens, the tools to eliminate it are also becoming more precise.
