Russia has completely blocked the U.S.-based messaging app WhatsApp, owned by Meta Platforms, after the company failed to comply with local laws, the Kremlin confirmed on Thursday. Russian officials are now urging citizens to switch to MAX, a state-backed “national messenger.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the decision was made because Meta refused to comply with Russian legal requirements. He described MAX as an accessible and developing alternative designed for Russian users. Authorities insist the platform is meant to simplify daily life by integrating government-related services, though critics argue it could be used as a surveillance tool. The government has strongly denied those claims.
The move follows months of escalating pressure on WhatsApp and reflects Russia’s broader effort to build a “sovereign” digital infrastructure during wartime. Under this policy, foreign tech companies are expected to comply with Russian regulations or leave the market fully. Meta’s Russian operations had already been labeled extremist, and WhatsApp previously warned that authorities were attempting to block its service entirely.
In response, WhatsApp said the Russian government was trying to force more than 100 million users onto a state-controlled platform, calling the action a step backward for privacy and security. The company argued that limiting access to private and secure communication would reduce overall safety for people inside Russia.
As part of the blockade, some WhatsApp-related domain names were removed from Russia’s national domain registry. This prevented devices inside the country from receiving the app’s IP addresses, making WhatsApp largely inaccessible without the use of a VPN. Russia’s communications watchdog Roskomnadzor did not immediately comment.
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