Russia moves to 'reduce VPN usage' with new blocking, fines and fees

Date:
Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:57:34 +0000

Description:
As residents flock to VPNs to keep using Telegram, Russia's Ministry of Digital Development announced new plans to curb VPN use. Here's all we know.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member
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your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter A Russian official has announced plans to "reduce VPN use" in the country The move includes new blocking obligations for websites and fees for users Russia's ongoing "great crackdown" is also targeting Telegram Russia has unveiled a new strategy to prevent citizens from using VPNs to bypass state-mandated blocks, including those impacting the popular messaging app Telegram.

In a letter shared on the state-controlled MAX app originally reported by Reuters the Minister of Digital Development, Maksut Shadaev, said that the government's "task is to reduce VPN usage." Shadaevs announcement also confirmed plans to restrict access to several additional foreign platforms, though the minister did not confirm which services would be affected. You may like Russias battle against VPNs is entering a new phase: Here's what to expect in 2026 "Another wave of VPN blocks:" Windscribe records drop in traffic in Russia Russias crackdown on VPNs reaches new heights as internet restrictions intensify

Russian news outlet Kommersant reports that major digital platforms will soon be required to block users identified as using a VPN. Failure to comply could result in a platform being removed from the countrys "whitelist" an official registry of approved websites accessible to the Russian public.

According to Forbes Russia , Shadaev also met with major telecom operators to discuss the introduction of a fee for VPN usage. Specifically, the government is considering a surcharge for users who exceed 15GB of international data
per month.

During these discussions, Shadaev reportedly weighed the possibility of introducing administrative penalties for using circumvention tools, although sources told Forbes the minister expressed hope that such punitive measures could be avoided.

These developments follow news that Apple has removed several custom VPN clients from the Russian App Store at the request of the states media regulator, Roskomnadzor.

As of January 2026, data from Kommersant suggests Roskomnadzor has already restricted more than 400 VPN services in Russia, representing a 70% increase compared to autumn 2025. Inside Russia's "great crackdown" (Image credit: Future + Jaque Silva/NurPhoto via Getty Images + ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Images) While the internet in Russia has long been under tight control, the Kremlin has significantly increased control in recent weeks.

Unnamed foreign diplomats in Russia have labelled the events " the great crackdown, " with residents in Moscow and St. Petersburg losing mobile connectivity entirely over the past fortnight, while public Wi-Fi hotspots across both cities have faced severe throttling. What to read next Telegram CEO condemns new restrictions in Russia as citizens turn to VPNs to bypass
the blocks Best Russia VPNs Russia is using DNS and DPI to block YouTube, Telegram and WhatsApp while pushing state-controlled MAX as alternative

The turning point started with the state's blocking of Telegram . As one of the final major platforms still operating relatively freely in the country, Telegram boasts an estimated 95 million users in Russia .

This massive reach is why the blocking campaign has drawn unprecedented criticism from a rare coalition of the public, military officials, and even high-ranking politicians, according to reports from the New York Times.

However, Putin shows no signs of backing down. In February 2026, the Russian Parliament passed a law granting the Federal Security Service (FSB) the power to order targeted communications shutdowns at will.

While using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is not yet technically illegal, the trajectory of the Kremlins digital policy is clear. And with it, the battle against VPNs looks set to intensify. Today's best VPN deals NordVPN 2 Year 2.59 /mth View +3 months free Surfshark 24 Months 1.49 /mth View Proton VPN 2.39 /mth View +4 MONTHS FREE ExpressVPN 24 month 1.74 /mth View We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!



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