Russia has begun blocking Telegram in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine

Widespread disruptions and deliberate slowdowns in the operation of the Telegram messaging app have been reported in the territories of Ukraine occupied by Russia. 

This was reported by Donbas Realities.

Despite earlier promises by the occupying authorities not to impose restrictions in frontline areas, residents of Donetsk and Luhansk regions are complaining about the inability to make calls and significant delays in data transmission. According to reports from local sources on March 19, 2026, even the use of services designed to bypass blocks does not always allow for a stable connection with areas controlled by Ukraine.

The most critical situation is observed in the Shchastia district of Luhansk region, where audio delay during calls via Telegram reaches 20 seconds. In Luhansk itself, calls do not go through at all without a VPN, forcing users to seek new ways to bypass Roskomnadzor’s censorship. The occupiers systematically block popular VPN services, making digital communication increasingly difficult and dangerous for the civilian population.

Problems with the messenger have become the main topic of discussion in local chat rooms in the occupied cities, where people complain about the service constantly “freezing.” Although text messages still reach their recipients, stable operation of multimedia features is practically blocked. Currently, the only effective method of maintaining communication remains the use of complex proxy server tools; however, their effectiveness is rapidly declining due to increased technical pressure from the Russian Federation.

As a reminder, Russianmilitary personnel have been banned from using Telegram for official purposes.

Recall: Is it possible to block Telegram in Ukraine, and does it make sense?

Telegram has also rolled out a major update with a range of new features for regular users and Premium subscribers.