Russia’s attempt to block Virtual Private Networks has reportedly caused major disruptions to its domestic payment systems, according to Telegram founder Pavel Durov.
The outage disrupted payments for many users, forcing authorities in Moscow to allow metro passengers to pass through turnstiles without paying.
In another case, a regional zoo had to request visitors to switch to cash after digital payment systems stopped working.
Durov said the problem was a direct result of efforts to restrict VPN access, claiming the blocking measures triggered a large-scale failure in banking-related systems. He added that tens of millions of Russians are now actively resisting these digital controls.
In a message posted on Telegram, Durov described the situation as a turning point, saying the entire nation is beginning to mobilize against what he called unnecessary restrictions. He suggested that people are increasingly finding ways to bypass limitations imposed on internet access.
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