Technical Issues Increase for WhatsApp in Russia

Russian users are reporting significant issues with the WhatsApp messenger, including the inability to send messages, delayed delivery, and malfunctions within both the mobile app and the website. According to data from Sboy.rf, over 1,600 complaints were received in the last 24 hours, with the majority coming from Moscow. The Downdetector platform also confirms these problems.

Since August, Roskomnadzor (Russia’s federal media regulator) has imposed restrictions on WhatsApp voice calls, and in October, partial limitations appeared within the app. According to Roskomnadzor, these measures successfully reduced the number of fraudulent calls by 40% within a single month.

Despite this, WhatsApp remains widely used in Russia for both personal and professional communication. In November, Roskomnadzor stated that the platform continues to violate Russian laws and warned that it would be fully blocked if the company continues to ignore their requirements.