Russia is stepping up efforts to build its own, more tightly controlled internet ecosystem. The authorities are promoting domestic digital services whilst restricting access to foreign communication platforms. However, the outcome is far from clear-cut. More and more Russians are using VPNs, and some users have devised their own ways of circumventing the new restrictions.
According to data cited by Reuters, in March 2026 alone, the five most popular VPN services were downloaded 9.2 million times from Google Play. That is fourteen times more than a year earlier. At the same time, the proportion of Russians declaring that they use a VPN has risen from 23 per cent in 2022 to 36 per cent today.
These changes are part of a broader strategy described by the Russian authorities as ‘digital sovereignty’. The Kremlin is promoting the domestic messaging app MAX, developed by the VK Group, as an alternative to foreign apps. At the same time, access to some Western services has been restricted or made more difficult, and operators and public institutions are increasingly blocking connections made via VPNs.
For many users, this means a more complicated internet experience. Reuters reports on cases of people using two phones: one for state-backed apps, the other for communicating via VPN and accessing foreign services. Increasingly, users are switching between different VPN servers, messaging apps and devices to maintain access to the tools they need.
The new restrictions are also affecting business. Internet disruptions in Moscow this spring hampered the operation of logistics services, online retail and navigation apps. According to data from Digital Budget, traffic on Wildberries, Russia’s largest marketplace, fell following the introduction of restrictions on VPN users.
The Kremlin justifies these measures on security grounds and to protect against threats linked to the war in Ukraine. At the same time, President Vladimir Putin has signalled that over-reliance on bans could be counterproductive. In recent weeks, the authorities have begun to soften their tone, emphasising the temporary nature of some of the restrictions.
The Russian internet increasingly resembles a model based on controlled access to selected services. At the same time, the growing popularity of VPNs shows that many users have no intention of giving up access to the global internet. This makes the battle between regulators and users increasingly resemble a technological game of cat and mouse.
