Russia has blocked WhatsApp across the country. As a result, millions must now seek other ways to chat.

Officials say the move follows legal violations by WhatsApp’s parent company, Meta. However, they did not share details. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the ban on Thursday. He said Meta refused to follow Russian law. Therefore, authorities enforced the block.

At the same time, Russia urges citizens to switch to Max. Max is a state-backed messaging app. In fact, officials call it a safe and affordable choice. Moreover, Russia now pre-installs Max on new devices. This step supports a wider push to replace foreign tech platforms.

Meanwhile, WhatsApp strongly criticized the action. The company said Russia tried to fully block the app. It called the move an attempt to force users onto a state-controlled platform. Furthermore, WhatsApp warned the ban harms private communication. It said isolating over 100 million users reduces safety.

Despite the block, some users still access WhatsApp through VPNs. However, Russia has tightened controls on VPN services. Authorities have already restricted hundreds of VPN providers. In addition, a new law bans advertising tools that bypass social media blocks.

Notably, this is not Russia’s first action against WhatsApp. In August 2025, regulators limited video and voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram. Officials said they aimed to fight crime. Yet, critics argued the steps increased censorship.

Earlier this week, Russia also restricted Telegram. Authorities accused the app of failing to remove banned content. However, Telegram founder Pavel Durov pushed back. He said attempts to limit the platform would fail. He added that Telegram stands for free speech and privacy.

Russia has already banned Facebook, Instagram, and X. Therefore, the WhatsApp block marks another step in a broader crackdown.

Critics now raise concerns about Max. They warn the app may track users heavily. They also question its encryption standards. Still, the government promotes Max as a modern super-app. Like China’s WeChat, it combines messaging, payments, and public services.

As tensions grow, digital freedom in Russia faces new limits. For now, many users must adapt quickly.