Russia Intensifies Telegram Blockade for Max Adoption

Russian authorities are intensifying efforts to block the popular messaging app Telegram by early April, aiming to steer millions of users toward the state-backed alternative Max amid widespread mobile internet outages that have disrupted daily life and business operations across major cities.

The crackdown, led by the telecommunications regulator Roskomnadzor, builds on recent restrictions that have already throttled Telegram's performance and fully blocked WhatsApp. Officials cite Telegram's failure to comply with content removal requirements as justification, though the app remains a vital tool for communication in Russia, with an estimated 100 million users. Roskomnadzor has enhanced its technical capabilities to enforce the restrictions more effectively than in previous attempts in 2018. As of late March, users reported increased slowdowns and access issues in cities including Moscow and St. Petersburg, with data from network monitoring groups showing anomalies in over 70 percent of tests conducted in recent days.

At the center of the push is Max, launched in 2025 by the social media company VK with support from President Vladimir Putin. The app combines messaging, social...