Russia steps up internet splintering with Telegram blocks

Russia is intensifying steps to separate parts of its domestic internet from the wider global network, in what analysts describe as a gradual but consequential effort. The shift has been visible since at least March 20, 2026, and has included more frequent mobile internet blackouts alongside targeted restrictions on major communications tools, including Telegram, across multiple regions.

 

Interference has been reported in a range of locations, including Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as other cities and provinces. Analysts characterize the approach as incremental rather than sudden, contrasting it with Iran’s more abrupt nationwide shutdowns. They attribute the difference to Russia’s more decentralized internet structure, which makes sweeping, immediate cutoffs harder to execute uniformly.

 

Instead, the effort is described as relying on government-mandated equipment deployed across multiple networks. Data from the Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI) points to broad disruption affecting Telegram. OONI said probes conducted on over 500 networks show blocks becoming more common, indicating a widening footprint of interference rather than isolated, short-lived restrictions.

 

Analysts from Amnezia VPN said the latest wave of Telegram blocking appears broader and more technically advanced than earlier attempts. They said the pattern suggests a higher tolerance for collateral disruption to other services, a shift that could matter for businesses and consumers that depend on stable connectivity for payments, logistics, and day-to-day communications.

 

Russian authorities have indicated plans for a complete block of Telegram by early April, according to the source material. A new government-controlled messaging service called Max is expected to serve as a replacement. The move would further concentrate communications within platforms subject to domestic control, aligning with the broader direction of building a more managed national internet environment.

 

Mobile internet shutdowns have also expanded in scope and frequency. Initially framed as a protective measure against drone attacks, the shutdowns are described as becoming more routine. A recent full shutdown in central Moscow disrupted banking and communications services, underscoring how connectivity restrictions can quickly spill into financial activity and essential services in major urban centers.

 

Analysts describe the overall trajectory as an attempt to create a more controlled domestic internet that could eventually extend beyond mobile networks to home connections. The source material notes that this pattern resembles approaches observed in other countries, where restrictions begin with targeted platforms and localized outages before broadening over time.