The Kremlin’s crackdown on VPNs is escalating. Here’s what Meduza readers in Russia have to say about it.
April 8, 2026
Meduza.io
On March 30, Russian media reported that the Digital Development Ministry, acting on instructions from either the FSB or Vladimir Putin himself, is preparing a new set of restrictive measures targeting VPN services — from making them harder to purchase through the App Store to raising fees on international traffic and possibly introducing administrative penalties for using VPNs (which aren’t currently illegal).
Against the backdrop of mobile Internet shutdowns, “white lists,” and blocks on WhatsApp and Telegram, this latest push against VPNs looks especially alarming. Meduza asked its readers in Russia what they think about the situation. Here are some of the most notable responses, translated into English.
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