Durov announced the launch of Digital Resistance in response to widespread blocking in Russia
Pavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram messaging app, has publicly expressed his support for Russian users who are trying to circumvent the government’s strict internet restrictions.
According to him, the Kremlin’s failed attempts to block VPN services led to a massive technical collapse of the country’s domestic payment systems.
The situation escalated on Friday when Russia experienced unexpected digital chaos, the causes of which the authorities have yet to explain.
Due to malfunctions in bank terminals and online payment systems, the Moscow Metro was forced to let passengers ride for free, and government agencies began accepting only cash.
“Welcome back to the Digital Resistance, my Russian brothers and sisters. Now the entire nation is mobilized to circumvent these absurd restrictions,” Durov wrote on his official channel.
He emphasized that tens of millions of people are actively resisting attempts to establish total digital control.
Russian officials justify blocking VPNs and messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram on the grounds of national security.
Moscow claims that these tools are being used to coordinate attacks on targets deep within Russian territory carried out by Ukraine.
Law enforcement agencies are focusing particular attention on completely blocking Telegram.
Russian authorities have claimed that the messaging app is allegedly “infiltrated” by the intelligence services of NATO countries and Ukraine, which, according to them, leads to casualties among Russian military personnel.
As a reminder, founder Pavel Durov stated that attempts by Russian authorities to restrict VPN usage led to a massive failure in the national payment system.
Additionally, a major disruption in mobile communications was reported in the Belgorod region. On March 18, authorities resorted to a complete shutdown of mobile internet for the first time.
Earlier, the St. Petersburg authorities officially announced the introduction of restrictions on mobile internet service, citing security measures as the reason.
Internet access was lost in the building of the Russian State Duma amid widespread network restrictions in Moscow.
