(MOSCOW) – Russia has begun restricting access to the messaging platform Telegram, affecting more than 75 million monthly users and further tightening state control over digital communication, according to users and technology analysts.
Telegram has long been Russia’s last major platform allowing relatively free communication. Most other international social media and messaging services have been blocked or restricted by the Kremlin since the start of its full scale invasion of Ukraine.
The restrictions appear to be part of a wider effort to force citizens to adopt a state controlled application known as MAX, which is designed for surveillance and political monitoring. The application has been pre installed on new devices since September last year.
Users report that while basic text messaging remains possible, many are unable to send or receive photographs, videos, or large files. Complaints have spread across social media and online forums, with users citing slow loading times and frequent service failures.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov said Russia was attempting to pressure users into switching to a government controlled platform built for censorship and surveillance. He compared the move to Iran’s failed efforts to ban Telegram in 2018, which were largely bypassed by users.
Durov said restricting digital freedoms had repeatedly failed in authoritarian states and warned that such measures undermined public trust and social stability.
The restrictions follow the adoption of new legislation by Russia’s State Duma in January, granting the Federal Security Service, or FSB, sweeping powers to impose communication blackouts during vaguely defined security threats.
Under the law, telecommunications companies can be ordered to cut internet, mobile, landline, and messaging services without court approval. The legislation also shields operators from legal claims related to service interruptions.
Civil rights groups say the law effectively allows the authorities to shut down communications nationwide in the event of protests or political unrest, mirroring measures used by Iran during mass demonstrations.
Analysts describe the new framework as one of the most extensive surveillance systems in modern Russia, giving the state unprecedented access to private communications.
The timing of the restrictions has raised concerns among military observers. The disruption comes shortly after Russian forces reportedly lost access to some satellite communication services near the front line.
Telegram has been widely used by Russian soldiers for sharing images, coordinating movements, and reporting battlefield developments. Its partial shutdown has reportedly complicated frontline communication.
Russian military units have attempted to replace lost services with alternative satellite terminals and improvised systems, though experts say these remain unreliable.
Some Russian sources report attempts to persuade Ukrainian civilians to register satellite terminals on behalf of Russian forces in exchange for payments of about 22,000 roubles, equivalent to approximately 240 US dollars. Ukrainian authorities say such schemes are monitored and blocked.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence said its specialists had anticipated these attempts and had developed systems to identify unauthorised devices.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces continue to rely on thousands of Starlink terminals for secure battlefield communication.
On the battlefield, Russian forces have also faced setbacks linked to information warfare. Ukrainian officials say Russian units have staged brief incursions into contested villages to record propaganda footage, only to be repelled shortly afterwards.
In several documented cases, Russian soldiers planted flags in frontline settlements before being eliminated by Ukrainian forces within hours.
Ukrainian drone units continue to target Russian supply routes, vehicles, and storage facilities. Footage released by Ukrainian sources shows strikes on transport convoys and logistics hubs.
Russian forces have attempted to introduce improvised defensive equipment to counter drones, including modified vehicles with rotating metal structures. Military analysts say these measures offer limited protection.
Reports have also emerged of wounded Russian soldiers remaining at the front for extended periods without proper medical evacuation. Human rights groups say some injured personnel have been forced to continue serving despite severe disabilities.
In Russia’s Belgorod region, Ukrainian linked partisan groups have claimed responsibility for attacks on communications infrastructure. Regional authorities have confirmed widespread power and heating outages affecting hundreds of residential buildings.
Officials have advised residents to relocate temporarily while repairs continue. Independent experts warn that damage to heating and water systems during winter could take months to repair.
Separately, a fire at a thermal power plant in Vladivostok left around 50,000 residents without electricity. Authorities said the incident was unrelated to military activity.
In international waters, the United States Navy recently boarded a tanker linked to Russia’s so called shadow fleet in the Indian Ocean. The vessel was suspected of transporting sanctioned oil.
At the same time, analysts say new United States sanctions on Venezuela have disrupted fuel supplies to Cuba, raising concerns over a worsening energy crisis on the island.
In Ukraine, Russian drone attacks have continued to hit civilian areas. In Odesa, a Shahed drone struck a residential building, killing at least four people, including a mother and her young son.
Ukraine’s energy company DTEK says repeated missile strikes have severely damaged power stations supplying hundreds of thousands of residents in Kyiv and other cities. Many households now receive electricity for only a few hours per day.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia’s targeting of energy infrastructure aims to weaken civilian morale during winter.
Politically, tensions continue between Moscow and Washington. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused the Trump administration of failing to honour alleged informal understandings on territorial issues.
Donald Trump has previously claimed he could end the war quickly, but critics say his statements have lacked practical detail and risk encouraging concessions to Moscow.
Ukrainian officials reject any proposals involving territorial exchanges and insist that all occupied regions must be returned.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has expanded cooperation with European partners. President Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian designed drones will soon be produced in Germany, the United Kingdom, and other countries.
Export centres are expected to open across northern and eastern Europe in 2026, supporting production and generating revenue for Ukraine’s defence industry.
Several European states have pledged additional military assistance, including aircraft, radar systems, and non lethal equipment.
Lithuania and Slovakia have raised millions of euros to fund generators and humanitarian supplies for Ukraine’s winter needs. Lithuania’s latest campaign collected about 5.7 million euros, equivalent to around 6.2 million US dollars.
Volunteer groups across Europe continue to provide language training and support services to Ukrainian soldiers and civilians.
Despite ongoing hardships, Ukrainian authorities highlight stories of returning defenders and community resilience as symbols of national determination.
