Moscow has long flirted with the idea of blocking it.

22:47, Wed, Mar 25, 2026 Updated: 22:48, Wed, Mar 25, 2026

Woman taking photo at the Red Square

Russia plans to ban Telegram on April 1 (Image: Getty)

The Russian public is pushing back against the planned ban of a popular app created by two Russians, with even pro-Kremlin voices fearing it could backfire. In a rare public opposition to blocking Telegram, the country's most popular messaging channel, Vladimir Putin has been warned that the proposed ban could have negative consequences at home and on the battlefield.

But authorities have increasingly portrayed Telegram as contributing to terrorism and criminal activity, restricting the app and targeting its founder. Similar grounds have already been used to restrict other messaging apps, including the February block on WhatsApp.

From April 1, Telegram should be blocked completely too. Instead, the Kremlin is steering users towards its new state-backed messaging app, MAX, which is feared to be used for surveillance. The "national messenger" is similar in functionality to Telegram, but it's also integrated with Russia's government services portal and can serve as a digital ID.

Telegram, Whatsapp, Messages and other phone Apps on iPhone screen

Putin's regime is about to block a popular app created by two Russians (Image: Getty)

The latest campaign has drawn criticism from even the most avid supporters of Putin. Pro-Kremlin gamer and activist Grigory Korolyov, also known as GrishaPutin, uses Telegram to help fundraise for the Russian army. He called the ban "criminal".

He told NBC News: "I can only assume that there is a lofty goal of making everything sovereign, but what's happening right now is just sabotage."

Meanwhile, Russia has launched an investigation into the alleged "terrorism activity" by Pavel Durov, the Russian-born tech mogul who founded Telegram in 2013. No official charges have been filed.

In a post on X last month, Durov dismissed the case against him, calling it "a sad spectacle of a state afraid of its own people".

Russia has opened a criminal case against me for “aiding terrorism.” Each day, the authorities fabricate new pretexts to restrict Russians’ access to Telegram as they seek to suppress the right to privacy and free speech. A sad spectacle of a state afraid of its own people.

— Pavel Durov (@durov) February 24, 2026

Earlier in March, users on the largest Russian-language social network VK turned to Roskomnadzor, Russia's media monitoring agency, complaining about recent internet blocks and the Telegram disruptions.

According to the Russian independent outlet Meduza, some of the comments included:

  • "Stop throttling Telegram!"
  • "I get cutting off the Internet when there's a drone threat - at least that has some logic. But why block all messengers? What did YouTube do to you? How is this about security? Let people choose how they communicate!"
  • "What kind of animals are blocking me from accessing Telegram right now? Is someone doing this on purpose, like a personal enemy?"
  • "Why doesn't Telegram work even over Wi-Fi now?! Stop violating citizens' rights!"
  • "How are we supposed to work if all our chats were on Telegram? Should we just not work?"

But the fury is not limited to regular users.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Telegram has become a key communication tool for both sides. Russian soldiers and military bloggers have used it to share front-line updates, raise funds, and supply equipment, while in Ukraine, the app remains vital for staying in touch with relatives in occupied areas.

Plus, according to the Kyiv Independent, there are two key economic drawbacks to banning Telegram.

Firstly, businesses would face sharply higher user verification costs. Sending one-time codes via SMS is far more expensive than doing so through Telegram, meaning companies with large user bases could see their annual costs rise by tens or even hundreds of millions of rubles.

Secondly, Telegram currently provides access to tokenised trading of US stocks - including firms like Tesla, Microsoft and Apple - through its in-app wallet. Losing this feature would remove a key route for Russian investors to access international markets.

Despite efforts to shift users onto the new MAX platform, analysts say there remains strong scepticism about it.