Alpha News

WhatsApp Accuses Russian Authorities of Attempting to 'Completely Block' Its Operation

Published February 12, 2026, 09:37

The messaging app WhatsApp has accused Russian authorities of attempting to completely block its operation in order to force users to switch to a state-controlled service. The company described the move as a setback that limits the safety of users in Russia and assured that it is doing everything possible to maintain communication for its users. The accusation comes after a similar announcement from the Telegram platform, which is also facing restrictions in Russia. Russian authorities accuse Telegram of violating Russian law and of not doing enough to prevent the platform from being used for "terrorist purposes". Telegram, founded by Russian Pavel Durov, is one of the two most popular messaging apps in Russia, along with WhatsApp, the use of which has already been restricted. Durov accused Moscow of seeking to force citizens to use a state-controlled application for surveillance and censorship. Russian authorities are promoting the use of Max, a new messaging platform owned by Russian social media giant VK, but the platform has not yet gained much popularity. Russia had already banned voice calls via Telegram and WhatsApp in the summer.