Russia has ordered a block on WhatsApp, as the Kremlin continues to tighten restrictions on messaging apps, BBC reported. 

Meta-owned WhatsApp said the move aimed to push more than 100 million of its app users in Russia to a "state-owned surveillance app".

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the BBC that the decision had been made "due to [Meta's] unwillingness to comply with the norms and the letter of Russian law". He has said Meta could resume operations if it "complies with [the law] and enters into dialogue".