Telegram throttling begins in Russia

According to RBC, starting February 10, 2026, Russia began partially restricting Telegram’s service across the country. This was confirmed by three sources-one from the IT industry and two from relevant government agencies. Service disruptions have been reported for the second day in a row, with complaints on Downdetector surpassing 8,500 within 24 hours.

• Roskomnadzor began throttling Telegram from February 10, 2026, confirmed sources from RBC within the IT sector and government bodies.
• The restrictions stem from Telegram’s slow response in blocking anonymous channels and failing to comply with Russian regulations aimed at combating crime.
• Full blocking of Telegram is not planned at this stage. The State Duma has said the restrictions will be lifted once violations are resolved.

What’s happening with Telegram on February 10

Widespread issues with Telegram service began on February 9. Users across Russia report problems uploading photos, videos, and voice messages. Text messages generally send but often with noticeable delays. According to Hi-Tech Mail, by February 2026, 92% of Telegram users in Russia experienced service interruptions. The highest complaint volumes come from Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Magadan, Sakhalin, Samara, and Novosibirsk regions.

Globally, Downdetector.com has not recorded any availability issues with Telegram, indicating these disruptions are localized rather than technical. Users report that connecting via VPN bypasses the problems entirely.

Why is Roskomnadzor throttling Telegram?

Andrey Svintsov, deputy head of the State Duma committee on information policy, confirmed in mid-January 2026 that Roskomnadzor is targeting Telegram due to its slow blocking of anonymous channels. He said these channels spread misinformation and are used to manipulate the stock market.

“I believe we should be the first country in the world to fully eliminate anonymity online, which is why Telegram is receiving such signals,”

Andrey Svintsov

On January 21, senator Artyom Sheikin from the Digital Economy Development Council under the Federation Council stated that Telegram has failed to meet requirements for combating crime within Russia. He explained that this is why the agency is consistently introducing restrictive measures.

A timeline of messenger restrictions in Russia

Pressure on foreign messaging apps in Russia has been mounting since summer 2025. In August, Roskomnadzor blocked voice and video calls on Telegram and WhatsApp, citing efforts to combat fraudsters and terrorists. November saw the start of WhatsApp blockades. By the end of December, WhatsApp’s speeds in Russia dropped by 70-80%.

In January 2026, initial reports of Telegram throttling surfaced. At that time, Roskomnadzor officially denied imposing new restrictions. State Duma committee deputy chairman Alexander Yushchenko also said that Telegram’s throttling was not being discussed in parliament.

Will Telegram be fully blocked?

The deputy head of the State Duma’s information policy committee told TASS that a full ban on Telegram in Russia is not expected. However, he emphasized that Telegram must fully comply with Russian laws. Svintsov added that while Telegram “is cooperating with Roskomnadzor, it’s doing so begrudgingly.” He estimated the technical and legal discussions could last another six months.

Meanwhile, State Duma deputy chairman for economic policy Mikhail Delyagin said on January 27 that, in his view, Telegram might face a full block ahead of the September 2026 elections. This is his personal opinion, not backed by Roskomnadzor decisions or official statements.

Telegram’s user base in Russia stands at around 100 million. After WhatsApp was effectively blocked, Pavel Durov’s messenger remains the country’s most popular communication platform.