Since April 1, Russia has been experiencing large-scale problems with the Telegram messenger amid rumors of its complete blocking.
Since April 1, Russia has been experiencing large-scale problems with the Telegram messenger amid rumors of its complete blocking.
After midnight, users began to complain en masse about the inability to open the application, problems with sending messages, receiving notifications, and downloading media. Most of the complaints come from Moscow, the Moscow region, and St. Petersburg, RosZMI writes.
According to preliminary data, users of Android devices are more likely to encounter technical failures.
Against this backdrop, interest in tools to bypass blocking has skyrocketed. According to Google Trends, Russians set a record for searches for VPN services in March.
The level of interest in queries about VPNs has reached a maximum of 100 points — the highest figure since at least 2021. The previous peak was recorded in December 2025 (59 points).
The most popular queries were:
Individual searches for VPN apps increased by more than 5,000%, including «uncle vanya vpn» and «planet vpn.»
Previously, Russian media reported that starting April 1, Roskomnadzor may begin a total blocking of Telegram, similar to Instagram and Facebook.
Against this backdrop, the country is also experiencing mobile internet outages. According to local media, Moscow may be implementing so-called «whitelists» of websites — a limited list of resources that are freely accessible.
The Russian authorities explain such restrictions by «security considerations» and protection against drone attacks. At the same time, users are trying to maintain access to their usual services via VPN, which traditionally accompanies any attempts at blocking in the Russian Federation.
At the end of February, it became known that Russia was investigating the case of Telegram founder Pavel Durov as part of criminal proceedings for «facilitating terrorist activities.»
In March, reports emerged that Moscow had been experiencing mobile internet and communication problems for a week. This has led to a sharp increase in demand for network-independent communication and navigation devices — pagers, landline phones, walkie-talkies, and paper maps.
Later, Russians began to complain en masse that the Telegram app would not open, photos and videos would not load, and messages would not be sent. The largest number of complaints came from Moscow and St. Petersburg.
According to the data of an all-Ukrainian survey by the Rating Sociological Group, the majority of Ukrainians do not support blocking Telegram, but approve of increased supervision by law enforcement officers.
