Russia has fully blocked WhatsApp for failing to comply with local legislation, the Kremlin said on Thursday, marking a sharp escalation in Moscow’s campaign to tighten control over foreign technology platforms.
The move marks the culmination of months of pressure on the U.S. company and reflects a wider push by Russian authorities to create what they describe as a “sovereign” communications infrastructure in which foreign-owned technology companies must comply with local legislation or leave the market.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the decision had been “taken and implemented” due to Meta’s unwillingness to comply with Russian law. He suggested Russians switch to MAX, a state-backed “national messenger”.
“MAX is an accessible alternative, a developing messenger, a national messenger and it is available on the market for citizens as an alternative,” Peskov said.
Meta said the move would isolate more than 100 million users in Russia from private and secure communication, and previously described earlier actions by Moscow as an attempt to push users towards a state-owned alternative.
Some domain names associated with WhatsApp were removed from Russia’s national internet registry, meaning devices inside Russia stopped receiving the app’s IP addresses and the service could only be accessed using a virtual private network.
Last year, Roskomnadzor began restricting certain functions on WhatsApp and Telegram, making it impossible to complete some calls after accusing foreign-owned platforms of refusing to share information with law enforcement in fraud and terrorism cases. Telegram has also faced slowdowns and regulatory pressure, though it remains accessible.
Telegram’s Russian-born founder Pavel Durov has previously said the platform remains committed to protecting freedom of speech and user privacy.
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Russian grain is once again moving by rail to Armenia along a route that had been closed for decades. The latest freight train departed from Baku on 9 March carrying hundreds of tonnes of grain.
Russia launched a barrage of drones and missiles at Ukraine overnight on Saturday (7 March), damaging infrastructure and killing at least 10 people, including two children, in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, Ukrainian officials said.
Russian attacks on Ukraine’s second largest city in the early hours of Saturday (7 March) killed 10 people, including two children. Kharkiv mayor, Ihor Terekov, said 10 residents died after a Russian ballistic missile hit a five storey apartment block in the city.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a hardline cleric with strong backing from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His rise signals continuity in Tehran's anti-Western policies.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader on Monday (9 March), signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 10th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. President Donald Trump called his recent phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin “very good.” The two leaders spoke on Monday about the situation in Iran and other international issues.
Welcome to our live coverage as the conflict involving Iran enters its 11th day. Tensions in the region remain high as the United States and Iran exchange increasingly sharp warnings over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke by phone on Sunday as tensions between Washington and Westminster deepened over the conflict involving Iran. The call came less than a day after Trump criticised Britain’s response to U.S. strikes on Iranian targets.
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