Russia Tightens Internet Curbs for 60 Million VPN Users as Blackouts Fuel Backlash
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · May 13
Russia Tightens Internet Curbs for 60 Million VPN Users as Blackouts Fuel Backlash
4 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · May 13
Three weeks of March shutdowns in Moscow and fresh Victory Day blackouts last week left phones offline, disrupted payments, transport apps and even air-raid alerts near Ukraine.
Authorities say the curbs are temporary security measures, but the campaign has widened into VPN restrictions, a proposed 15 GB cap on international traffic and pressure on users to shift from Telegram to the state-backed Max app.
About 60 million Russians—roughly 46% of internet users—still rely on VPNs, while others improvise with Google Docs, smart devices and other tools as regulators try to make bypassing blocks too costly and cumbersome.
The restrictions have triggered elite infighting, complaints from business owners and rare public criticism from influencers and opposition figures, with Putin's approval ratings falling for seven straight weeks.
Russia's internet has moved from selective site blocking toward an Iran-style whitelist model, though its fragmented telecom network and persistent user workarounds have made a full lock-in harder to enforce.
Is Russia's 'digital sovereignty' the first domino to fall, leading to a truly fractured global internet?
Is Putin's war on the internet creating a new front line of dissent within Russia's own elite?
Russia’s 2026 Internet Crackdown: Mobile Blackouts, Messaging Bans, and the Push for a “Sovereign Internet”
Overview
From late April to early May 2026, Russia saw an unprecedented escalation in internet restrictions, marking a major shift in government control over digital communications. Widespread outages, including in Moscow, disrupted daily life for citizens and businesses, fueling growing discontent. The crackdown targeted mobile internet, messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, and VPNs, pushing users toward a state-owned surveillance app. These measures, justified by authorities as security steps, are widely seen as efforts to consolidate power and isolate Russia from the global internet. The resulting disruptions have sparked protests and highlighted deepening public frustration and resistance.