Russian Internet Curbs Halve Some Telegram Sales as Users Carry 5,000 Rubles, Switch to VPNs
Updated
Updated · Meduza · May 29
Russian Internet Curbs Halve Some Telegram Sales as Users Carry 5,000 Rubles, Switch to VPNs
1 articles · Updated · Meduza · May 29
Telegram-dependent businesses and households say Russia’s spring internet clampdown has upended routine tasks, with one Moscow craft seller reporting sales down by roughly half after blocks hit her main channel.
VPNs, proxies and app-specific tools have become daily necessities because services fail unevenly: users toggle workarounds for YouTube, Discord and Telegram, then switch them off so Russian sites such as Ozon or Wildberries will load.
5,000 rubles in cash, offline maps, downloaded videos and advance route planning are replacing always-on mobile access as readers prepare for “white list” periods and wider mobile internet outages.
Max, the state-backed messenger, is spreading less by choice than by necessity—through schools, daycare groups and some regional contacts—while many readers keep it off main devices or refuse to use it beyond the web version.
Across regions, readers describe the restrictions as isolating and economically damaging, pushing some to rely on landlines and fixed internet, read more news, or even prepare to emigrate.
As Russia's state super-app rises, are citizens trading convenience for inescapable digital surveillance?
Is Russia's digital iron curtain a national security shield or a self-inflicted path to collapse?
Russia’s 2026 Digital Iron Curtain: The Escalating Internet Crackdown and Its National Fallout
Overview
In 2026, Russia dramatically escalated its control over the internet, creating what is widely called a 'digital iron curtain.' The government, led by the communications regulator Roskomnadzor, imposed strict new restrictions on major platforms like Telegram, citing national security and public safety. These measures have deeply affected daily life and business operations, as access to popular communication tools is disrupted and citizens are forced to use workarounds like VPNs. The crackdown reflects a broader strategy to tighten state oversight of online content and bring encrypted communication under strict regulatory control, signaling a new era of digital isolation for Russia.