Russia is killing Telegramits most popular messaging appdespite fears of pushback

The Kremlin’s tightening grip on Russian life has a new target: the country’s most popular messaging app.

Ordinary Russians and even pro-Kremlin hawks have offered rare public pushback against the campaign to throttle Telegramwarning it could backfirenot just at home but for Russia’s military in Ukraine.

The app is woven into the daily existence of those who support and oppose the government alike. But the Kremlin is instead pushing people to its new “national” messenger MAXwhich many fear could be used to surveil them as part of a deepening crackdown on freedoms since the invasion of Ukraine. Those fears have been amplified by a wave of mobile internet outagesincluding recent disruptions in Moscowwhich authorities have justified as necessary for security.

For monthsRussians have complained that Telegram was working slower and more sporadicallyand this week users began reporting a major slowdown.

NBC News spoke to ordinary Russianspro-regime figures and human rights activists about the country’s new digital reality.

‘Criminal’ throttling of Telegram

Millions in Russia use Telegram daily for private communication and crucial information.

Russian officialsKremlin propagandistswar bloggersbusinesses and celebrities are on the app. More than a messengerit’s an ecosystem for everything from updates on incoming Ukrainian drones to general news and commentary.

But authorities have increasingly presented Telegram as a breeding ground for terrorism and criminal activitywith the country’s communications regulator restricting the app and targeting its Russian founder. Similar grounds have already been used to restrict other messaging appsincluding the Meta-owned WhatsApp.

The latest campaign has drawn criticism from even the most avid supporters of President Vladimir Putin.

Pro-Kremlin gamer and activist Grigory Korolyovwho also goes by the nickname GrishaPutinuses Telegram to help fundraise for the Russian army — in exchange for a donationhe offers stickers that Russian soldiers on the front lines then put on their artillery shells and fire at Ukraine.

Korolyov19calls himself a “cyber warrior” in Putin’s so-called special military operationthe term the Kremlin uses for its war. Despite his professed patriotismthe St. Petersburg native told NBC News he doesn’t understand the logic of restricting or banning Telegram. In facthe thinks it’s “criminal.”

The app has become a hub for a “patriotically leaning” audience and pro-war commentatorshe said in a phone interviewand is used by thousands of people like him to fundraise for the Russian army.

“I can only assume that there is a lofty goal of making everything sovereignbut what’s happening right now is just sabotage,” Korolyov said.

Another activistOlga Kryginagathers humanitarian aid — clotheswater and medical supplies — for Russian troops and civilians in occupied areas of Ukrainewhich she calls Russia’s “new territories” in line with the Kremlin’s rhetoric.

Originally from Ukraine’s eastern city of DonetskKrygina54now lives in St. Petersburg and told NBC News in a phone interview that Telegram has been effective in helping her organize and deliver the aid. But Krygina said she and her fellow volunteers have been growing their presence on MAXanticipating a possible ban.

Krygina said she doesn’t have any issue with using the new national messengerthough she said a Telegram shutdown “won’t be pleasant.”

She said she accepts the Russian government’s move toward banning Telegrambecause “our secret services know better.”

The Kremlin says Telegram is not complying with Russian laws and not cooperating with authorities to stop serious crimes it says are being perpetrated on the app. It has confirmed to NBC News reports in two Russian newspapers that Pavel Durovthe Russian-born tech mogul who founded Telegram in 2013is being investigated for “assisting terrorism activity.” No official charges have been filed.

Durov dismissed the case against himcalling it “a sad spectacle of a state afraid of its own people” in a post on X last month.

“Russia is restricting access to Telegram to force its citizens onto a state-controlled app built for surveillance and political censorship,” Durov said.

It’s not just Russia that has leveled these accusationsthough. Durov was arrested in France in 2024 and charged with enabling various forms of criminality on his app. He was permitted to leave France last year after pledging to “significantly improve” the site’s moderation of criminal activity.

Telegram did not respond to requests for comment from NBC News.

Roskomnadzorthe Russian communications regulatorhas not officially said it plans to ban Telegram. Asked about the most recent slowdown on TuesdayKremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told NBC News he had “nothing to add” and was not aware of any contacts with the messenger’s management.

‘Forced’ alternative

In slushy streets next to central Moscow’s Pushkinskaya Squarepeople were reluctant to talk about a possible ban and whether they would consider switching to MAX. Most only wanted to speak their minds without sharing their full namesas is usually the case in Russiawhere dissent is punished.

“Unfortunatelyit’s being forcedand I don’t like it,” said Varvara about the new national messenger. “That’s why I don’t install it.”

Artem44said he has installed MAXbut has experienced connectivity problemsblaming its developers for making a “crap” product. He said he was not worried about securityas he feels Telegram is just as unsafe.

Russia tried to ban Telegram for failing to provide the FSB state security service with its encryption keys in 2018but was unsuccessful.

Insteadthe messenger continued to grow in popularity and is widely used by Russian state officials and Kremlin propagandists. It’s equally as popular among Kremlin critics.

Dmitrii Zair-Bek with Pervy Otdela human rights project helping people facing politically motivated charges in Russiasaid they use Telegram to establish “primary contact” with Russians who need their help.

“They want to block Telegram because of organizations like us — independent information sourcesnot controlled by the Kremlin,” he said. Zair-Bekwho is currently based outside Russiaexpects many inside the country will continue using Telegramhoweverby installing a virtual private network (VPN) — technology that has allowed Russians to bypass online restrictions.

Some people also told NBC News they were considering buying another phone for downloading the state-backed messenger if there is pressure to do so. The app’s creators say the number of users has already reached 100 millionor nearly 70% of Russia’s population.

“I only plan to switch to MAX if there is no other way,” said Maria from Moscowwho did not want her last name shared because of security concerns.

But Zair-Bek is worried it will be difficult for his organization to reach less tech-savvy peopleso it is considering having some presence on MAX.

The “national messenger” is similar in functionality to Telegrambut it’s also integrated with Russia’s government services portal and can be used as a form of digital ID.

As of Septemberit must be preinstalled on all electronic devices in Russia. Officials are increasingly redirecting their Telegram audiences therewith one regional governor alerting Ukrainian drone attacks only on MAX.

But users have been reporting bugs and security concernsrating the app poorly and sharing online memes about pressure to use it.

‘Shooting itself in the foot’

The potential Telegram ban has been harshly criticized by Russia’s popular military bloggerswho say the army relies on the platform for battlefield communications in Ukraine.

“For mobile fire groups assigned to combat [drones]Telegram has long been the only (and againin all capsONLY) communication channel,” wrote influential military channel Two Majors last month.

Some bloggers reported this weekciting sources on the front linesthat Russian soldiers were being told to remove Telegram from their phones or face punishment. NBC News could not independently verify these reports.

Firebrand politician and ardent Putin supporter Sergei Mironov has also been left fumingcalling Russian authorities “idiots” for slowing down Telegram. Russian troops “often have nothing” but Telegram to communicateMironov said. “Don’t deprive them of what helps them defeat the enemy and save their lives.”

The Russian military in Ukraine only uses “standard communications systems” not linked to messengers including TelegramRussia’s Defense Ministry insisted last month.

The Kremlin has also resisted the outragewith Putin receiving a report at a recent public event from a commander of a communications battalion who said there were “no problems” with the army’s communication systems and that Telegram was a “hostile messenger.”

But military logistics specialists told NBC News the Russian army does rely on Telegram for tactical communicationand the Kremlin doesn’t have much of a viable alternative.

The Russian military is likely to try replacing it with MAXbut there is no data yet on how effective it could be on the battlefieldsaid Ronald Tian expert in military logistics at King’s College London.

The Kremlin has “prioritized regime security over tactical effectiveness,” Ti said.