Telegram's Durov Hails Russian Resistance Against Moscow's VPN Blocks
By Reuters | 04 Apr, 2026

Telegram founder Pavel Durov said Mowcow's attempt to block VPNs triggered a problem with a domestic payment system and that tens of millions of Russians are now resisting digital controls.

A keyboard is placed in front of a displayed Telegram logo in this illustration taken February 21, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

Telegram founder Pavel Durov said on Saturday Russia's attempt to block Virtual Private Networks triggered a problem with a domestic payment system, adding that tens of millions of Russians were now resisting the digital controls.

The issue sowed chaos on Friday for some ​shoppers, forcing the Moscow metro to allow entry without payment through its turnstiles, while a regional ​zoo had to ask visitors to ​use cash.

"Their blocking attempts just triggered a massive banking failure," Durov said on Telegram. "Welcome back to the Digital Resistance, my Russian brothers and sisters. The entire nation is now mobilised to bypass these absurd restrictions."

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)