Significant disruptions in the operation of the Telegram messenger have been reported in the occupied territories of Donbas. Local residents are reporting substantial slowdowns and difficulties in making calls and sending messages. These issues arise despite promises from the Russian authorities not to restrict the operation of the messenger in the so-called ‘SVO zone’.
This is reported by Finway
Communication Problems in Donetsk and Luhansk Regions
In Luhansk region, Telegram users are complaining about almost complete inability to reach the territories controlled by Ukraine. Even when using a VPN, there is a significant delay during connection, which can reach up to 20 seconds, or the sound may completely disappear. Residents of Luhansk note that it is currently impossible to make a call via Telegram without a VPN. However, if a working VPN that has not yet been blocked by Russian providers can be found, communication becomes possible.
Similar complaints are coming from other cities in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In local chats, residents are writing about frequent disruptions in the messenger’s operation, delays, and application freezes. Using a VPN partially resolves the issue, but this method is no longer helping all users.
People are writing: ‘Telegram has been constantly lagging in recent days’, ‘Telegram is freezing, although messages are getting through’, ‘Can we collectively write to Putin – will he have mercy and not block Telegram?’
Telegram is Massively Blocked in Russia and in Occupied Territories
Since March 16, information about the beginning of mass blocking of Telegram in the territory of the Russian Federation has been circulating in Russian media and among bloggers. Unlike the occupied regions, the messenger often stops working in Russia even with a VPN connection. According to media reports, the number of failed requests from Telegram users in Russia reaches 80–90%. Thus, the service has effectively become unavailable to most Russians.
The official blocking of Telegram in Russia is scheduled for April 1, 2026. At the same time, according to the head of the Russian Ministry of Digital Development, Maksut Shadayev, the restrictions should not apply to the ‘SVO zone’, as the messenger is actively used by the Russian military, who are planned to be gradually transitioned to domestic services.
However, as reported by the investigative community ‘InformNapalm’, the Russian General Staff has already prohibited military personnel from using Telegram, which is confirmed by intercepted internal documents of the Russian army.