Russia officially announces restrictions on calls via Telegram and WhatsApp

Russia’s communications watchdog Roskomnadzor announced the partial restriction of voice calls (VoIP) on Telegram and WhatsApp, RBC reports.

The decision was prompted by the widespread use of these services by fraudsters and the platforms’ “refusal to comply with Russian legislation.” As clarified by Roskomnadzor, only the voice call functionality is being blocked—text chats, file sharing, and status updates will remain available.

For its part, the Ministry of Digital Development believes that the restriction of calls will have a positive impact on reducing the number of fraudulent calls. The Ministry noted that Telegram and WhatsApp, despite repeated warnings from the authorities, refuse to comply with the requirements of Russian legislation. In particular, the companies do not provide information requested by law enforcement agencies on mass fraud cases and incidents involving the planning and execution of terrorist acts within Russia.