- Days after Telegram blocked, Russia also restricts WhatsApp and YouTube
- Censors are reportedly using a mix of DNS blocking and DPI techniques
- VPNs can bypass the blocks but circumvention tools also restricted
Telegram, WhatsApp and YouTube have all been blocked in Russia over the last three days as authorities ramp up efforts to push state-controlled alternatives.
Cybersecurity experts told TechRadar that the platforms are likely being restricted via the country’s national Domain Name System (DNS). Often described as the “phonebook of the internet,” the DNS helps connect web browsers to the specific websites users request.
By deleting or redirecting these domain names, the system fails to reach the required IP address, forcing users to bypass the DNS resolver via a VPN.
Cybersecurity researcher Łukasz Olejnik suggested on X that Roskomnadzor adopted this approach because it lacks the capacity to throttle Telegram, YouTube, and WhatsApp simultaneously. Instead, authorities “completely blocked the easier targets by removing them from DNS.” he wrote.
Sarkis Darbinyan, a Russian cyber lawyer and RKS Global expert, warned that DNS manipulation – which is relatively easy to circumvent – is just one tool in Roskomandzor’s arsenal.
Speaking to TechRadar, Darbinyan also highlighted the use of “TSPU” equipment (Technical Measures for Countering Threats), which leverages Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) technology.
DPI provides authorities with granular insights into users’ browsing activity, allowing censors to selectively drop data packets bound for targeted services. While VPNs can bypass these DPI-enabled blocks, authorities are increasingly targeting the anti-censorship tools themselves.
A push towards state-controlled apps
Darbinyan describes the latest wave of restrictions as “predictable,” as authorities pursue the “progressive shutdown of all platforms beyond the Kremlin’s control.”
“It was clear the process would continue slowly but steadily until these platforms were fully blocked. What we misjudged, however, was the timing of the crackdown on Telegram,” Darbinyan told TechRadar, noting that experts hadn’t expected a full ban for at least another six months.
Telegram, the first service restricted this week, is more than just a messaging app – it’s also vital tool for the Kremlin and pro-war bloggers to distribute propaganda. The ban has proven controversial internally, even drawing criticism from Russian soldiers.
According to Darbinyan, the Telegram restrictions began the same day VK announced the launch of “private channels” on MAX – a move likely designed to force Telegram’s audience toward the state-backed alternative. MAX, a state-controlled “super-app” modeled after China’s WeChat, must now be pre-installed on every smartphone and tablet sold in Russia.
Developed by VK, the app integrates messaging with government services and banking, though experts warn it possesses “enormous surveillance potential.”
What’s next for digital rights in Russia?
Experts monitoring Russia’s digital landscape anticipate that censorship will only intensify in the coming months. Website blocks are expected to expand to more services as authorities tighten their grip ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for September.
As TechRadar previously reported, Russia has entered an aggressive new phase in its battle against VPNs. To support this, Roskomnadzor is set to allocate 2.27 billion rubles (~$29 million) to develop an AI-powered filtering system. This is designed to automate the detection and blocking of both prohibited content and encrypted VPN connections.
Darbinyan believes this is just the start of a total consolidation of the national internet. He told TechRadar that he expects any service that “does not store user data locally, and does not cooperate with the Russian security services” will be blocked within the next couple of years.
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