Russian authorities have begun restricting access to Telegram, one of the country’s most popular social media apps, as the government continues to push everyday Russians toward its own tightly controlled alternatives to foreign tech platforms. Telegram rejects that claim, saying it actively combats the harmful use of its platform. This is not the first time Russia has gone after Telegram. One Russian military blogger said Roskomnadzor was helping “the enemy” and forcing Russian troops to rely on “carrier pigeons” by restricting use of Telegram. Segal guesses that the Russian government has decided that the pushback is “worth it,” given Russia’s internal security desires.

Source: Egypt Independent February 11, 2026 09:26 UTC