Russia Tried To Block Telegram, Ended Up Boosting VPN Usage, Says Pavel Durov

Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, has highlighted Russia’s strict online restrictions, stating that despite attempts to block access, millions continue to use Telegram via VPNs. Durov noted broader measures, which include mobile internet shutdowns and a state-approved “white list” of accessible websites during disruptions. Mobile Internet Shutdowns Hit Several RegionsAccording to a report by The Moscow Times, russian officials have implemented mobile shutdowns in several regions, restricting citizens’ access to data networks. The report notes that, as per the government officials, these steps are essential to maintain public order and stop the preventon the spread of misinformation, but residents note significant disruptions to daily life, business

operations, communications, and online services. The report added that during these outages, users in Russia could only access websites approved by the officials, while essential services like government portals remained accessible; the wider internet was largely restricted.

Here’s What Telegram CEO SaidDurov said, “Telegram was banned in Russia — yet 50M+ Russians still use it daily via VPNs. The government has spent years trying to ban VPNs, too. Their blocking attempts just triggered a massive banking failure — cash briefly became the only payment method nationwide.”He added that more than 50 million Russians send at least one message every day, with 65 million active users in the country despite the ban. Citing a similar example, the Telegram CEO pointed out that Iran followed the same strategy. He stated, “Iran banned Telegram years ago, with a result similar to Russia. The government hoped for mass adoption of its surveillance messaging apps, but got mass adoption of VPNs instead. Now 50M members of the Digital Resistance in Iran are joined by 50M+ more in Russia.”While the Russian authorities reportedly insisted that the measures were temporary, experts noted that these shutdowns could hamper the social activity reliant on digital connectivity.