The Russian authorities have set a deadline for blocking the Telegram messenger and are considering taking this measure in early April, a source familiar with the discussions in the relevant agencies told RBC.
Two sources close to the Kremlin call this a "final decision". Among the reasons discussed for the blocking, they point to the recent increase in cases of recruiting people, including minors, to commit "illegal actions".
Earlier, the Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media Maksut Shadayev said that the authorities do not plan to restrict Telegram's activities in the combat zone in Ukraine. “A decision has been made not to restrict Telegram's operations in the special military operation zone at this time“, he said at a meeting of the State Duma Information Policy Committee on February 18.
At the same time, the head of the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media expressed hope that the military would eventually switch to other platforms. By April, Telegram will be available only on the front line, a source close to the Kremlin confirmed to RBC. The Telegram channel Baza earlier reported that Telegram could be blocked on April 1.
This week, “Rossiyskaya Gazeta“ and “Komsomolskaya Pravda“ (KP) reported on a criminal investigation into Telegram founder Pavel Durov for aiding terrorist activity. Citing materials from the FSB, the publications wrote that the messenger had failed to remove channels that called for extremism. Durov linked the criminal case against him to an attempt to “suppress the right to privacy and freedom of speech“.
According to the KP, the Telegram administration failed to comply with Roskomnadzor's demands and failed to remove 1,369 channels, chats and bots related to child pornography, as well as 3,771 related to drugs, 2,666 related to suicide, and 2,124 dedicated to involving minors in illegal activities.
In addition, over 10,500 channels containing calls for extremism and related to “financing the enemy“ were not removed.
Another 1,125, the publication writes, contained materials from extremist and terrorist organizations. Part 1.1 of Article 205.1 of the Russian Criminal Code, which refers to aiding terrorist activities, carries a sentence of eight years to life in prison.
On February 10, RBC sources reported that the authorities had decided to slow down the messenger's activities in Russia. According to sources, Roskomnadzor began to implement the order on the same day.
Later, on February 10, the regulator stated that the messenger, as before, does not comply with Russian legislation and does not guarantee the safety of citizens. Therefore, the agency, “by decision of authorized bodies“, announced the continuation of the gradual introduction of restrictions.
In August 2025, Roskomnadzor announced restrictions on calls to Telegram and WhatsApp. The decision was explained by the fact that both have become major voice services used for fraud, extortion and recruitment of Russians for subversive and terrorist activities. In October, the regulator warned that measures were being taken to partially restrict the activities of foreign messengers “to combat criminals“.