Moscow's showdown with the social network Telegram could harm the Russian military, pro-war bloggers have warned, while the platform's founder has refused to give in to pressure from Moscow.
Russia's communications regulator said yesterday that the app - used daily by more than 60 million Russians - would begin to slow down across the country, accusing it of failing to fix previous regulatory violations.
The decision has sparked rare public criticism across Russian society, from soldiers on the front lines and hardline military bloggers to lifestyle influencers and exiled opposition figures.
The move fits into the Kremlin's goal of establishing a "sovereign internet" - an online space cut off from Western technologies and foreign influence, more susceptible to state control, writes the British "Guardian".
At the same time, officials are promoting a so-called "super-app" called Max, modeled after China's WeChat, as Moscow tightens control over foreign messaging platforms.
It remains unclear whether Moscow will move to completely block Telegram or will initially just slow down the service to pressure the company to cooperate more closely with the authorities.
Users reported slow traffic and delays in downloading videos and photos on Tuesday, although the app continued to work for most functions.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said officials were "in contact with representatives" of Telegram, adding that if the company did not respond, the Russian communications regulator would take further measures "in accordance with our legislation."
Dubai-based billionaire and tech entrepreneur Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has issued a rare public criticism of his native Russia, comparing the measures to Iran's attempts to restrict the platform. "Limiting citizens' freedoms is never the right answer," he said in a statement. "Telegram stands for freedom of speech and privacy, regardless of pressure."
Reactions have been particularly harsh within the pro-war blogging community and the military, where Telegram has become a key means of communication. Several videos of Russian soldiers criticizing the restrictions circulated online on Tuesday.
In one video address, a soldier directly challenged the regulator: "Did you even ask us? Did anyone come to check if this would be useful?"
Another soldier described Telegram as "the only chain" connecting units to various state structures and agencies, urging officials to reconsider the decision: "Before you do this, think about whether it is really necessary."
Some pro-war bloggers close to the Defense Ministry have warned that Telegram's restrictions could make it harder for Russian air defenses to respond to drone attacks. "Telegram remains almost the only means of communication in active combat units and helps coordinate interagency mobile fire groups," the pro-Russian channel "Two Majors" reported.
Peskov tried to downplay the criticism, saying it was "hard to imagine" that communication on the front lines was taking place via any messaging app, including Telegram.
The measures come at a sensitive time for the Russian military. Days earlier, Ukraine said Starlink terminals used by Russian troops had been deactivated following talks between Kiev and Elon Musk, whose company SpaceX operates the satellite network.
Since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago, Moscow has accelerated efforts to tighten control over the internet, restricting Western platforms like WhatsApp, YouTube and Instagram.
Telegram, however, has largely continued to function – partly because of its popularity among ordinary Russians and its usefulness in spreading pro-Kremlin narratives. Almost all Russian officials use the app daily for public messaging and private communication.
At the same time, the app has become a key place for Russians seeking information beyond state narratives, as it is operated by influential channels linked to the network of Alexei Navalny and other exiled opposition figures.
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