Under the Kremlin’s Hood: Russia is Preparing to Block WhatsApp and Control Telegram
Фото: з відкритих джерел
Putin instructed the Russian government to develop mechanisms to restrict the use of messengers and software from “unfriendly countries” by September 1, 2025. WhatsApp may become the next victim of the ban, and VK’s new Max messenger is turning into a tool of total digital control.
This was reported by the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine.
According to intelligence, Russia is stepping up steps towards digital isolation and increased surveillance of citizens, as evidenced by data released by the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine.
According to Putin’s instructions, by September 1, the Russian government must develop restrictive measures against foreign software, primarily instant messengers from countries that the Kremlin considers “unfriendly.”
WhatsApp , owned by Meta, a company already designated as “extremist” in Russia, has been in the spotlight. Authorities are considering the messenger as a prime target for potential blocking.
The situation with Telegram is no less complicated. Although it was created by Russian Pavel Durov, the messenger does not officially cooperate with the Kremlin and declares independence, which makes its position shaky – it could be banned at any moment.
In parallel, the Kremlin is introducing its own digital control tool — the Max messenger, created by the VK company controlled by the special services.
Max Features:
- Full access to the microphone, camera, geolocation, contacts and files on the device.
- The inability to uninstall it using standard methods.
- Using root access and system jar files, which has signs of spyware.
- All user activity is automatically transmitted to VK servers, which work closely with the FSB.
The messenger is already mandatory for all civil servants , which turns it into another brick in the construction of total digital surveillance in the Russian Federation.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, this is part of the Kremlin’s overall strategy — to isolate Russian citizens from alternative sources of information , create a closed information space, and ensure technical control over the population.
It was previously reported that the Telegram app has become a key weapon for pro-Kremlin accounts to spread disinformation aimed at undermining support for Ukraine. Recently, Russian intelligence officers have been using it to recruit petty criminals to carry out sabotage in European capitals.
On the eve, March 12, the Center for Countering Disinformation (CDC) and the Cyber Department of the Security Service published a list of safe channels for obtaining information, and also revealed a network of tools for spreading hostile disinformation on Telegram.
The Central Intelligence Agency also published a list of channels for spreading hostile disinformation , urging Ukrainians to report cases of identifying sources of Russian propaganda.
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