Russia Implements Total WhatsApp Ban: Kremlin Cites Legal Non-Compliance as State-Backed MAX App Takes Center Stage

On Thursday, February 12, 2026, the Russian Federation officially confirmed the total cessation of WhatsApp services across its territory. Authorities cited the platform's persistent failure to comply with national legislative requirements as the primary justification for the shutdown. This decisive action is framed as a critical component of Russia's broader strategy to bolster digital sovereignty and accelerate the transition of its citizens to the domestic communication platform, MAX, developed by the technology giant VK.

The technical execution involved the removal of the whatsapp.com and web.whatsapp.com domains from the National Domain Name System (NSDI). Consequently, the service has become inaccessible to users with Russian IP addresses unless they employ circumvention tools such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov clarified that any potential restoration of WhatsApp services would depend entirely on Meta's willingness to engage in constructive dialogue and align its operations with Russian legal standards. Peskov emphasized that Meta’s "uncompromising stance" currently precludes any possibility of the platform returning to the country's legal framework.

Meta, which was designated an extremist organization in Russia back in 2022, has characterized the regulator's move as a "step backward." The corporation warned that isolating citizens from secure communication channels could have detrimental effects on personal safety. Prior to the ban, WhatsApp maintained a massive presence in the country, with estimates suggesting its user base exceeded 100 million people.

The path toward this total blackout began in earnest in August 2025, when the federal regulator Roskomnadzor initiated restrictions on voice and video calls for both WhatsApp and Telegram. These measures were triggered by the platforms' refusal to share user data with authorities. By the end of 2025, users experienced significant slowdowns in media file transfers. Officially, these interventions were presented as a campaign against telecommunications fraud; Roskomnadzor reported that disabling call functions reduced the volume of fraudulent calls by approximately 40% within the first few weeks of implementation.

In the wake of the ban, the government is aggressively promoting the state-sanctioned alternative, MAX. Developed by Communication Platform LLC, a subsidiary of VK, MAX was launched in March 2025 as a comprehensive "super-app." It integrates standard messaging with government services via the ESIA (Gosuslugi) portal and features a digital identity system, drawing frequent comparisons to China’s WeChat. Since September 2025, the application has been subject to a mandatory pre-installation requirement on all new smartphones sold within Russia. As of August 2025, MAX recorded approximately 32.2 million unique monthly users, while WhatsApp still led the market with over 97 million users at that time.

Despite its rapid rollout, MAX has faced scrutiny from independent analysts regarding its security architecture. Critics point out that the app lacks the end-to-end encryption that defined WhatsApp, potentially leaving user data vulnerable to state surveillance. Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has also weighed in, suggesting that the government's actions are designed to force the population onto platforms that the state can monitor more effectively. Nevertheless, the Kremlin maintains that MAX is a cornerstone of achieving total technological independence, a goal reiterated by President Vladimir Putin in December 2025.

Looking ahead, the regulatory environment is set to tighten further on March 1, 2026, when new laws grant Roskomnadzor expanded powers over network infrastructure management. This legislative shift provides a robust legal foundation for the ongoing centralization of internet traffic. The February 12, 2026, shutdown of WhatsApp represents the culmination of a multi-stage strategy aimed at consolidating and controlling communication flows within the Russian segment of the global web.