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WhatsApp Calls Restricted in Russia as Government Promotes Homegrown Apps

By  |  August 14, 2025

WhatsApp has accused Moscow of seeking to cut off millions of Russians from secure communication after authorities began limiting calls made on the platform. The move comes amid Russia’s broader effort to promote domestic social media and tighten control over its online environment, according to Reuters.

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    On Wednesday, Russian officials confirmed they had started restricting certain WhatsApp and Telegram calls, alleging the platforms—both foreign-owned—had refused to share data in investigations involving fraud and terrorism. Per Reuters, tensions between Moscow and global tech companies have escalated since the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, when Russia banned Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, slowed YouTube’s performance, and imposed hundreds of fines on firms that defied local content and data rules.

    “WhatsApp is private, end-to-end encrypted, and defies government attempts to violate people’s right to secure communication, which is why Russia is trying to block it from over 100 million Russian people,” the company said late Wednesday, pledging to keep encrypted services accessible in the country. Telegram maintained that it actively removes harmful material, using AI to delete millions of problematic messages daily.

    According to Mediascope data cited by Reuters, WhatsApp reached 97.3 million users in Russia in July 2025, while Telegram counted 90.8 million. State-backed VK Messenger ranked third with 17.9 million users.

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    Reports from Downdetector and Sboy showed spikes in complaints over WhatsApp connectivity issues, with some regions also experiencing mobile service disruptions. In Krasnodar, local media noted drops in connectivity, and a public Telegram group for taxi drivers saw drivers lamenting the inability to access online maps.

    The restrictions on WhatsApp and Telegram calls coincide with the rollout of MAX, a government-backed messaging service tied to state services. Critics have voiced concerns about surveillance, while senior officials, including parliamentary tech regulator Anton Gorelkin, have encouraged followers to join the new platform.

    Mikhail Klimarev of the Internet Protection Society told Reuters that MAX may struggle to handle a sudden wave of users and that gradual adoption would be more manageable. “People don’t like being forced to register somewhere new,” Klimarev added.

    For now, WhatsApp’s other features remain available, though Reuters notes Russia has previously slowed services like YouTube to limit access without imposing an outright ban.

    Source: Reuters