What's blocked in Russia
WhatsApp and YouTube were blocked in February 2026, Telegram is throttled, and Instagram, Facebook, X, Signal and Discord have been blocked for years.
- WhatsApp: Blocked
- Voice & video calls: Blocked
- Telegram: Slowed down
- Signal: Blocked
- Discord: Blocked
- Facebook: Blocked
- Instagram: Blocked
- X (Twitter): Blocked
- TikTok: Partly blocked
- YouTube: Blocked
- Google: Works
- Works
- Age-gated
- Partly blocked
- Slowed down
- Blocked
App by app
| App | Status | Since | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blocked | Feb 2026 | ||
| Voice & video calls | Blocked | Aug 2025 | WhatsApp and Telegram calls were cut in August 2025. |
| Signal | Blocked | 2024 | |
| Discord | Blocked | 2024 | |
| Messenger | Blocked | 2022 | Follows the Facebook block. |
| Viber | Blocked | Dec 2024 | Blocked by Roskomnadzor. |
| Blocked | 2022 | ||
| Blocked | 2022 | ||
| X (Twitter) | Blocked | 2022 | |
| YouTube | Blocked | Feb 2026 | |
| Snapchat | Blocked | Dec 2025 | Blocked alongside FaceTime. |
| Threads | Blocked | 2022 | Follows the Instagram block. |
| Blocked | 2016 | Blocked under the data localisation law. | |
| Telegram | Slowed down | Feb 2026 | |
| TikTok | Partly blocked | New uploads limited since 2022. | |
| Fortnite | Partly blocked | Mar 2022 | Epic stopped in-game sales. |
| Roblox | Age-gated | Blocked Dec 2025; restored Jun 2026 with age-group limits. |
Not offered in Russia
These companies don't sell their service here. That's a business or sanctions decision, not government censorship.
Working normally
The 3 VPNs that fit Russia
Our assessment, plus what visitors in Russia are reporting this week.
Picked for heavy censorship: each can disguise VPN traffic.
ExpressVPN
UnreliableNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Obfuscation is automatic on every server.
NordVPN
UnreliableNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Use the NordWhisper protocol, built for networks with deep packet inspection.
Proton VPN
UnreliableNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Use the Stealth protocol.
Not sure about these three? See 3 more VPNs Surfshark, Private Internet Access and CyberGhost
Surfshark
UnreliableNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Turn on NoBorders mode.
Private Internet Access
UnreliableNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Turn on the Shadowsocks proxy in settings.
CyberGhost
UnreliableNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Switch to a nearby server (CyberGhost has no stealth mode) before connecting.
We earn a commission if you buy a VPN through our links. It never changes what we report as blocked. How we pick and how we make money
What's going on
Russia's censorship tightened sharply in 2026. Roskomnadzor began slowing Telegram on 10 February, moved to block WhatsApp two days later, and imposed a nationwide YouTube block on 12 February. Users are being pushed toward the state-backed messenger MAX.
Before you connect: Install your VPN before entering Russia. Standard WireGuard and OpenVPN are detected, so an obfuscated protocol is essential.
Is a VPN legal in Russia?
Legal with restrictions
Using a VPN is legal, but only approved providers may operate, advertising VPNs is banned, and July 2025 laws added penalties for searching for banned content. Hundreds of VPN apps were removed from Russian app stores.
This is general information, not legal advice.
Questions people ask
Which apps are blocked in Russia?
Yes. WhatsApp, Voice & video calls, Signal, Discord, Messenger, Viber, Facebook, Instagram and 5 more are blocked in Russia. Telegram is deliberately slowed down.
Can I make WhatsApp calls in Russia?
Voice and video calls are blocked in Russia. WhatsApp and Telegram calls were cut in August 2025.
Which streaming and online services are not available in Russia?
Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, JioHotstar, Spotify and 2 more are not offered in Russia. That is the companies' decision, often because of licensing or sanctions.
Is it legal to use a VPN in Russia?
Legal with restrictions. Using a VPN is legal, but only approved providers may operate, advertising VPNs is banned, and July 2025 laws added penalties for searching for banned content. Hundreds of VPN apps were removed from Russian app stores.
Which VPN works in Russia?
Our picks for Russia are ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Proton VPN. Connections are unreliable here, so switch on each one's anti-censorship mode: ExpressVPN (use automatic obfuscation (protocol set to Automatic)), NordVPN (use NordWhisper or obfuscated servers) and Proton VPN (use the Stealth protocol). Check the live votes on this page for this week's results.
Will a VPN work during an internet shutdown in Russia?
No. A VPN can get around blocks on specific apps and sites, but during a full shutdown there is no connection to the outside world for the VPN to use.
Report a block
Seeing something different in Russia? An editor reviews every report before the page changes.