- Days after blocking Telegram, Russia also restricts WhatsApp and YouTube
- Censors reportedly use a mix of DNS and DPI blocking techniques.
- VPNs can bypass blocks but circumvention tools are also restricted
Telegram, WhatsApp and YouTube have all been blocked in Russia over the past three days as authorities step up efforts to promote state-controlled alternatives.
Cybersecurity experts told TechRadar that the platforms are likely restricted through the country’s National Domain Name System (DNS). Often described as the “phone book of the Internet,” DNS helps connect web browsers to specific websites that users request.
By removing or redirecting these domain names, the system fails to reach the required IP address, forcing users to bypass the DNS resolver via a VPN.
Cybersecurity researcher Łukasz Olejnik suggested on Instead, authorities “completely blocked the easiest targets by removing them from the DNS.” he wrote.
Sarkis Darbinyan, a Russian cyber lawyer and RKS Global expert, warned that DNS manipulation – which is relatively easy to circumvent – is just one tool in Roskomandzor’s arsenal.
Speaking to TechRadar, Darbinyan also highlighted the use of “TSPU” (Technical Measures to Counter Threats) equipment, which leverages Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) technology.
DPI provides authorities with granular information about users’ browsing activity, allowing censors to selectively remove data packets intended for targeted services. Although VPNs can bypass these DPI-enabled blocks, authorities are increasingly targeting the anti-censorship tools themselves.
A push toward state-controlled apps
Darbinyan describes the latest wave of restrictions as “predictable,” as authorities continue the “gradual closure of all platforms beyond the Kremlin’s control.”
“It was clear that the process would continue slowly but surely until these platforms were completely blocked. What we misjudged, however, was the timing of the Telegram crackdown,” Darbinyan told TechRadar, noting that experts did not expect a total ban for at least six months.
Telegram, the first service restricted this week, is more than just a messaging app: it is also a vital tool for the Kremlin and pro-war bloggers to spread propaganda. The ban has proven controversial internally, even drawing criticism from Russian soldiers.
According to Darbinyan, Telegram’s restrictions began the same day VK announced the launch of “private channels” on MAX – a move likely intended to force Telegram’s audience toward the state-backed alternative. MAX, a state-controlled “super-app” modeled on China’s WeChat, must now be pre-installed on every smartphone and tablet sold in Russia.
Developed by VK, the app integrates messaging with government and banking services, although experts warn it has “huge surveillance potential”.
What’s next for digital rights in Russia?
Experts monitoring Russia’s digital landscape predict that censorship will only intensify in the coming months. Website blocks are expected to expand to more services as authorities tighten their grip ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for September.
As TechRadar previously reported, Russia has entered a new aggressive phase in its fight against VPNs. To support this, Roskomnadzor is expected to allocate 2.27 billion rubles (about $29 million) to develop an AI-powered filtering system. This is designed to automate the detection and blocking of prohibited content and encrypted VPN connections.
Darbinyan believes that this is only the beginning of a total consolidation of the national Internet. He told TechRadar that he expects any service that “does not store user data locally and cooperate with Russian security services” will be blocked over the next two years.
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