Russia has fully blocked access to Meta's WhatsApp messaging service, affecting over 100 million users in the country who now require a VPN to access the platform. The move, reported by Russian news outlet Gazeta.ru on Wednesday, February 12, 2026, is part of a broader push to promote the state-backed domestic alternative, MAX.
WhatsApp responded on social media platform X, accusing Russia of trying to "isolate over 100 million users from private and secure communication" and drive them toward a "state-owned surveillance app." The company stated this action is "a backward step" that "can only lead to less safety for people in Russia" and vowed to continue efforts to keep users connected.
The state-backed platform MAX was launched in March 2025 by Russian tech firm VK as a domestic alternative to foreign services like WhatsApp and Telegram. Starting September 1, 2025, Russian law mandated that all smartphones sold in the country must have MAX pre-installed, a clear strategy to boost adoption.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, cited by state news agency TASS, stated that unblocking WhatsApp would require Meta to comply with Russian laws and show a willingness to negotiate. "If [Meta] complies with the legislation and enters into a dialogue with the Russian side, then, of course, some kind of agreement is possible," Peskov said. He added that an "uncompromising position" from Meta would leave no chance for resolution.
This escalation follows previous restrictions. In 2025, Moscow began limiting some calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, accusing the platforms of failing to share information with law enforcement and not storing Russian user data within the country. In January 2026, State Duma deputy Andrey Svintsov told TASS that Russia's telecom regulator planned to adopt measures to completely block WhatsApp by the end of 2026—a timeline the current action has accelerated.
Russia boasts the world's fourth-largest active monthly WhatsApp user base, estimated at 72 million people by SEO firm Backlinko, behind only Indonesia, Brazil, and India.
The news highlights a growing trend of governments restricting communication platforms. Similar instances were noted in Uganda, where opposition leader Bobi Wine promoted the decentralized peer-to-peer messaging service Bitchat ahead of elections, and in Madagascar, Nepal, and Indonesia, where Bitchat downloads spiked during periods of protest and communication disruption.
