Russia has restricted voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, citing security concerns and the platforms’ refusal to share user data with law enforcement. The ban, announced by media regulator Roskomnadzor, affects over 185m combined users in the country. Authorities claim the services are widely used for fraud, extortion, and recruiting citizens for sabotage or terrorism, and say access will be restored once they comply with Russian laws, according to Al Jazeera.

While the restrictions officially target voice calls, users report video calls are also disrupted. The move is part of Moscow’s broader push to tighten internet control since the Ukraine war began, including plans to replace foreign messaging apps with a domestic service called Max. WhatsApp says it resists government efforts to undermine secure communication, while Telegram insists it actively removes harmful content.