Calls on WhatsApp and Telegram will be blocked in Russia – media

Tengrinews.kz – Users in Russia have experienced disruptions when making voice calls in the WhatsApp and Telegram messengers. According to media reports, these restrictions may be linked to the gradual blocking of this function.

What happened

Media outlets report that WhatsApp and Telegram calls “do not always go through,” especially when using mobile internet. When connected via Wi-Fi, call quality improves.According to Downdetector statistics, a few days ago over 7,500 users reported Telegram malfunctions, and more than 3,300 reported WhatsApp issues. There have been no official comments from either company so far.

Unofficial information and possible reasons

Some media, citing unconfirmed reports, say that major Russian telecom operators — MTS, Beeline, Megafon, and T2 — may have requested restrictions on calls in foreign messengers. The reason allegedly is the need for extra revenue to support infrastructure and prevent internet speed reduction.

According to the Telegram channel “Krovavaya Barynya,” a decision to ban WhatsApp and Telegram calls has already been made at the highest level, officially framed as “fighting terrorism.” Final consultations are expected to conclude in the coming days.

Channels and text messaging in these apps will remain available. However, telecom market insiders warn that using foreign SIM cards might not bypass the ban, as TSPU (technical counter-threat measures) systems can also affect such traffic.

Background

Rumors of possible messenger restrictions in Russia have surfaced before. In July, Anton Gorelkin, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, said WhatsApp should prepare to leave the Russian market, as it would likely be added to the list of software from “unfriendly” countries subject to blocking. He added that Telegram has a higher chance of remaining.

Gorelkin named the Russian national messenger MAX as WhatsApp’s potential replacement.

MAX, launched in 2025 by VK, is designed for messaging, video calls, money transfers, integration with the Gosuslugi public services portal, and mini-apps. It includes the GigaChat AI, supports channels, chatbots, and “super-app” functionality similar to China’s WeChat. Its pre-installation on devices in Russia will become mandatory starting September 2025.