Russia blocks VPN access to major platforms, moves to charge for mobile VPN traffic

The Kremlin has been fighting VPNs for nearly a decade: a law banning circumvention of blocked websites appeared in 2017, authorities began mass-banning VPN services from 2021, and in 2024 their advertising was banned. Authorities launched a new “crusade” against VPNs a month ago, against the backdrop of Telegram’s blocking. The Digital Development Ministry, acting on orders from either Putin or the FSB, devised several new restrictions. Some have already taken effect, while others officials have not yet managed to introduce — or are holding in reserve as a fallback.

What the authorities have already done

✅ Banned topping up Apple ID balances from a mobile phone account

Starting April 1, the telecom operators of the “big four” — MTS, Beeline, MegaFon, and T2 — at the Digital Development Ministry’s request, stripped customers of the ability to top up Apple ID balances from their mobile accounts. The move is designed to make purchasing VPNs through the App Store as difficult as possible. Russian authorities had taken steps in this direction before, though through Apple itself rather than the carriers — since 2022, the company has removed dozens of VPN clients from the Russian App Store at Roskomnadzor’s request.

✅ Banned access to Russian platforms via VPN

In late March, the Digital Development Ministry told major digital platforms they would be required to block access for users with an active VPN or lose their place on “white lists.” By mid-April, many popular websites and services had complied. Among those that began denying access to VPN users were Gosuslugi, Sberbank, Ozon, Wildberries, Aviasales, Yandex services, and Russian Railways. The restrictions also caught users who are simply located abroad.

What hasn’t happened yet

❌ Charging for mobile traffic when using a VPN

The Digital Development Ministry tried to impose an additional charge on carriers for mobile VPN traffic — a 15-gigabyte monthly limit, with each additional gigabyte costing 150 rubles. The system was supposed to launch as early as May 1, but carriers asked for a delay, saying they needed considerably more time to configure their billing systems. The Digital Development Ministry nonetheless confirmed it plans to charge for VPN traffic on mobile networks — and addressed the question many have been asking — how it will distinguish VPN traffic from ordinary foreign traffic: it won’t.

❌ Fining people for using a VPN

Digital Development Ministry head Maksut Shadayev explained the measures this way: his ministry had been tasked with reducing VPN use in Russia; administrative liability was an option, but the Digital Development Ministry dislikes that approach and is trying to find a “complex compromise.” The implication is that if the compromise fails, administrative liability could return to the agenda. Given how readily Russian authorities have embraced bans, fines for VPN users look like a very real threat — but no such measures are being publicly discussed for now. Using a VPN in Russia is still legal.

What else happened with VPNs this month

• The State Duma, the lower house of Russia’s parliament, plans to ban Russian hosting providers from supplying computing capacity to VPN services, the Russian business daily Kommersant found. According to the Telegram channel Kod Durova, VPN services are preparing for a mass blocking of their servers as a result.
• The independent Russian investigative outlet Verstka found the first criminal cases in which VPN use was recognized as an aggravating circumstance — a law to that effect was passed last year. Both cases involved purchasing drugs online.
• The Russian business news outlet RBC reported that carriers had agreed to freeze the expansion of communication channels running from Russia to Europe. The Digital Development Ministry’s calculation is that this will eventually make foreign traffic scarce and complicate the operation of VPN services.
• Russian schools began holding classes on the dangers of using VPN services.