Russian authorities this month imposed new restrictions on voice calls made through WhatsApp and Telegram, curbing the functionality of the country’s two most widely used messaging services as a state‑linked alternative, known as Max, is rolled out.
The media regulator Roskomnadzor announced measures in mid‑August that have left millions of users facing disrupted calls and intermittent access. The timing of the restrictions coincided with the introduction of Max, a so‑called national messenger created by a Russian firm reportedly closely controlled by the Kremlin. For many Russians, the changes have complicated both private and professional communications.
Marina, a 45‑year‑old freelance copywriter, told BBC News that a WhatsApp call to a colleague failed to connect properly one day last month. An attempt to switch to Telegram also did not work, she said. Such interruptions affect routine coordination from parents’ chats and tenancy groups to business communication, particularly in a country where monthly users of WhatsApp and Telegram are estimated at about 97 million and 90 million respectively, in a population of roughly 143 million.
WhatsApp, owned by Meta, has been targeted in Russia amid a wider crackdown that has designated Meta an extremist organisation. The platform’s ease of use has made it especially popular among older Russians, while Telegram has long been a major alternative for a broad cross‑section of the public.
The launch of Max is being framed by officials as a homegrown alternative, a single application intended to offer messaging alongside other services. The company behind Max is described in public reports as closely aligned with state interests, and the app has been promoted amid growing efforts to build a domestic internet ecosystem less dependent on foreign technology.
Digital rights groups and independent analysts have reported an uptick in internet blackouts and targeted throttling of services in recent months, a trend observers say further constrains the ability of Russians to use international platforms. Roskomnadzor’s restrictions on voice services have compounded those disruptions and raised practical questions about how people will maintain communications for work, healthcare and family matters.
The Kremlin has increasingly emphasised technological sovereignty, seeking to ensure that core elements of Russia’s digital infrastructure remain under domestic control. Officials argue such measures protect national security and user data; critics say they amount to censorship and a shrinking of the public sphere.
The impact of the new measures is uneven: some users report intermittent problems limited to voice calling, while others describe broader connectivity issues. For businesses and freelancers who rely on instant messaging for client contact and logistics, any sustained disruption could have economic consequences.
Roskomnadzor has previously moved against other international platforms and services, citing failures to comply with Russian law. The current restrictions on WhatsApp and Telegram voice functions, and the simultaneous promotion of the Max app, reflect a continuation of those efforts to reconfigure the country’s online ecosystem.
As the rollout continues, it remains unclear how many users will migrate to Max or how effectively the state will be able to supplant established foreign platforms. For now, millions of Russians are managing with reduced functionality on apps that have become central to daily life, even as authorities press ahead with alternatives they say will ensure the resilience and sovereignty of Russia’s internet infrastructure.