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REVEALED: Roskomnadzor - The Real Truth

Two phones and an app: How Russians skirt Putin's digital iron curtain

Since the Kremlin ratcheted up control over the internet this year, Russians have been turning to increasingly convoluted technical solutions to circumvent state monitoring and restrictions on popular foreign apps like Meta Platforms' WhatsApp and the Telegram messenger.

The Economic Times

'This is an important release' — Amnezia VPN strengthens its apps to fight Russia's new approach to VPN blocking in latest update

'This is an important release' — Amnezia VPN strengthens its apps to fight Russia's new approach to VPN blocking in latest update

"We have no intention of giving in to the difficulties," said Amnezia's founder, as the team fixed a bug in its latest update to thwart the newest censorship methods allegedly adopted by Russia's media regulator Roskomnadzor.

Major Russian mobile provider Beeline launches 'whitelist VPN' for Netflix and Spotify

Major Russian mobile provider Beeline launches 'whitelist VPN' for Netflix and Spotify

Russian telecom giant Beeline has introduced a built-in "whitelist VPN," granting users direct access to Western streaming and gaming platforms that suspended their operations in the country.

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Russia’s solution to its VPN crackdown breaking the internet? A state-owned VPN

Russia's internet regulator, Roskomnadzor, has a unique solution for the problems caused by its own VPN crackdown: creating a state-controlled VPN. The plan is meant to restore access to vital developer tools, but the IT community fears it could become a tool for surveillance.

Russian Roskomnadzor accused of launching active DDoS attacks on VPN services — here's what we know so far

Russia's media regulator, Roskomnadzor, has allegedly shifted from blocking VPNs to actively launching DDoS attacks against their infrastructure, leaving services like Amnezia VPN struggling to stay online.

'The situation isn’t looking good' — Russia halts VPN fees, but the Kremlin's war against censorship circumvention tools doubles down

A new major wave of VPN blocks has left residents with very few means of going back online. Here's all we know.

Russia orders Apple and Google to remove Important Stories, an investigative media app that works without a VPN — leaving Russians without a key source for accessing uncensored news

Important Stories launched the IStories mobile app in February to make sure information would reach Russians despite widespread internet censorship and VPN restrictions.

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'VPNs have adapted': How BlancVPN and VPN Liberty are dodging Russia's VPN blocking technology to allow Russians access to Telegram without losing everyday services

'VPNs have adapted': How BlancVPN and VPN Liberty are dodging Russia's VPN blocking technology to allow Russians access to Telegram without losing everyday services

While the Kremlin's fight against VPN usage reached new heights, the tech seems to keep outsmarting the politics — for now, at least. And these are the best performing VPNs in Russia right now.

Russian censors target Google in VPN takedown push

Russian censors target Google in VPN takedown push

As Russia doubles down against VPN usage, Google seems to be resisting removal requests so far, despite a popular app, ZoogVPN, having reportedly been removed from Google Play. Here's all we know.

Russia's internet crackdown leads to a spring of growing discontent

Russia's internet crackdown leads to a spring of growing discontent

Anger and frustration is growing in Russia over government restrictions on the internet that have disrupted daily life, hurt businesses and brought condemnation from both Kremlin critics and supporters alike

The Independent UK

'Switch to MAX, by any means necessary' — Inside Russia’s great internet crackdown

'Switch to MAX, by any means necessary' — Inside Russia’s great internet crackdown

After censoring the internet for years, the Kremlin is now pushing citizens to the state-controlled MAX by further targeting VPN usage. But the disconnect over the Telegram shutdown could be the needed turning point.

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

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

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.

Apple removes custom VPN clients from Russian App Store amid Telegram crackdown

Apple removes custom VPN clients from Russian App Store amid Telegram crackdown

After blocking Telegram, Russian authorities are now restricting access to custom proxy and VPN apps on Apple's App Store.

Russia thwarts protests over the blocking of a popular messaging app, but frustration persists

Russia thwarts protests over the blocking of a popular messaging app, but frustration persists

Authorities in nearly a dozen regions across Russian have refused to authorize protests in recent weeks over internet censorship and the blocking of Telegram, a popular messaging app

The Independent UK

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Telegram shutdown begins in Russia — here's everything we know

Russian Telegram users have been reporting struggles to use the app since the weekend, ahead of the full blockage expected in April. VPNs seem to be working — but this may soon change.

Russia opens criminal case against Telegram's Durov for 'promoting terrorism,' reports say

Russia has opened a terrorism-related criminal case against Telegram founder Pavel Durov amid new blocks on the app and a push for a state-controlled alternative, according to Russian state media reports.

Telegram might be fully blocked in Russia. Question is, when will it happen?

Russian authorities are denying media reports of plans to fully block Telegram from 1 April, noting that no decisions have been made on the matter yet. For many Russians, this sounds like an indirect confirmation of further digital isolation and stricter Internet censorship.

Russia is using DNS and DPI to block YouTube, Telegram and WhatsApp while pushing state-controlled MAX as alternative

Russia has completely blocked access to Telegram, WhatsApp, and YouTube. Citizens keep looking for ways around, but VPNs are also being targeted.

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Telegram CEO condemns new restrictions in Russia as citizens turn to VPNs to bypass the blocks

Russia begins disrupting access to Telegram, but users are fighting back. Find out why VPN demand is spiking and what it means for the future of Russian internet censorship.

Russia restricts Telegram over alleged law breaches as it supports state-backed rival

Russia's communications regulator Roskomnadzor said it would "continue to introduce phased restrictions" on Telegram over legal violations.

Russia’s battle against VPNs is entering a new phase: Here's what to expect in 2026

New laws and sophisticated blocking techniques are making VPN use in Russia increasingly difficult. Here's what changed last year and what to expect over the next 12 months.

The Independent UK

Angry Russians turn on Putin over poverty and stagnant economy during marathon press conference

‘Why do ordinary people live worse than Papuans [citizens of Papua New Guinea]?’ hit out one Russian viewer

Tom’s Hardware

Russian media finally admits Putin is under fire from angry citizens, but it's for the recent Roblox ban — Kremlin says kids have written 63,000 complaint letters, half said they wanted to leave Russia due to the ban

There's been a Russian youth uprising, with tens of thousands of kids writing to say they want to emigrate because Roblox has been blocked.

The Guardian - US

Russia blocks Snapchat and restricts Apple’s FaceTime, state officials say

Latest effort to control communications comes as regulator claims apps being used to ‘conduct terrorist activities’

The Independent UK

Russia bans FaceTime in Putin’s latest move to halt communication and control the internet

Putin previously banned calls via WhatsApp, the most popular messaging app in Russia, and Telegram, a close second

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