The Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation has demanded that platforms restrict access when a VPN is enabled.

      The Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation held a meeting with the heads of companies owning the largest Russian internet resources by MAU (Monthly Active Users). As reported by several sources familiar with the meeting's progress to RBC, the head of the agency, Maksut Shadaev, stated that by April 15, companies need to restrict access to their platforms for users with VPN enabled. One of the interlocutors clarified that this date is considered more of a guideline than a strict deadline. According to sources, representatives from more than 20 companies participated in the meeting, including Sberbank, Yandex, VK, Wildberries & Russ, Ozon, Gazprom-Media, Avito, X5, 2GIS, ivi, Wink, HeadHunter, LitRes, CIAN, Lamoda, Magnit Market, Vseinstrumenty.ru, Gismeteo, Rambler, Lemana Pro, Tutu, Vkusvill, and Lenta. As RBC's sources claim, companies are expected to receive a list of IP addresses of VPN services previously identified by Roskomnadzor and recognized as violating Russian legislation. In addition, participants have already been provided with methodological recommendations describing ways to independently identify and block VPNs, including those services that have not previously come to the regulator's attention. The authorities' intention is to allow for the restriction of new VPN services as well. Information about them will need to be reported to Roskomnadzor for further inclusion in the blocking lists, covering both large and less popular resources. One source characterized the approach as effectively involving businesses in the fight against VPNs using the technical capabilities of the platforms themselves. Another interlocutor explained that the need for companies' participation is related to the rapid spread of VPN services. He also noted that failure to comply with the requirements could lead to measures, including exclusion from "white lists" and loss of IT benefits. According to a source from RBC in the media market, a government decree may be adopted by April 15, which will formalize the monitoring of the availability of Russian services through VPNs. If a resource remains accessible, it may lose its IT accreditation, be excluded from "white lists," and from the list of software mandatory for pre-installation on devices in Russia. According to interlocutors, the restrictions will not apply to corporate VPNs if they are not used to access prohibited resources. However, they emphasize that it is technically difficult to reliably distinguish corporate traffic from other types of VPN, which creates the risk of erroneous blocks and may affect legitimate connections. As a targeted result, the authorities expect that by mid-April, the functionality of Russian services will not work when using VPNs or other circumvention tools. The Ministry of Digital Development, according to sources, plans to provide companies with both "white" and "black" lists of VPNs. Meeting participants note that most companies are technically ready to comply with the requirements, but this will require system adjustments.

      Some companies raised the issue of the potential impact of the new rules on user experience and competitive conditions between platforms. According to interlocutors, VPN services are already using methods to bypass filtering, including substituting IP addresses from "white lists," which allows them to circumvent restrictions. This could lead to a situation where large platforms find themselves at a disadvantage compared to smaller services or foreign resources, such as Google, which Russian regulators can influence only to a limited extent. At the same time, sources note that the authorities are striving to avoid a scenario of introducing administrative or criminal liability for using VPNs. Some participants also pointed out possible problems in Roskomnadzor's methodology, which relies on probabilistic models for determining VPN traffic. They stated that the system could mistakenly classify ordinary connections from other countries as VPN usage, creating risks of false positives. Representatives of the media market note that such errors could be critical for entertainment services, including online cinemas. Earlier, Forbes reported that the Ministry of Digital Development recommended the largest digital platforms, including VK, Ozon, Avito, Wildberries, and Yandex, to restrict access for users with VPN enabled.

      More news on the event:

      RBC: The Ministry of Digital Development asked platforms to help block services that circumvent restrictions. The Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation asked the largest audience Russian platforms to help block services that circumvent restrictions. 19:34 02.04.2026 Business Online - Kazan

      The Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation demanded that platforms restrict access with VPN enabled. The Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation held a meeting with the heads of companies owning the largest Russian internet resources by MAU (Monthly Active Users). 18:19 02.04.2026 IA Tatar-inform - Kazan

      News from neighboring regions on the topic:

      Tula students were explained why VPN can be dangerous. Tula students were told about the hidden threats of VPN. An open lesson was held at the Tula College of Construction and Industry Technologies as part of the "Digital Literacy" project. 21:58 02.04.2026 IA Tula Press.Ru - Tula

      From April 15, access to websites through VPN may be restricted: what will change for users. The Ministry of Digital Development of Russia discussed with the largest internet companies measures to restrict access to their services for users using VPN services included in Roskomnadzor's "black list." 23:49 02.04.2026 OTV - Yekaterinburg

      The police did not check and will not check Russians' phones for the presence of VPN services. Photo: IA "Novomoskovsk Today." This was reported by the department for organizing the fight against illegal use of information and communication technologies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. 21:24 02.04.2026 IA Novomoskovsk Today - Novomoskovsk

      In Russia, a fight against VPN will begin on April 15. It turned out what the authorities devised against those who circumvent restrictions. The Ministry of Digital Development held a meeting with the heads of more than 20 largest Russian online platforms and demanded to restrict access for users by April 15. 05:46 03.04.2026 KamchatkaMedia.Ru - Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

      Large resources and stores will block users with VPN. In case of non-compliance with the requirement, companies may lose IT benefits and a place in "white lists." The Ministry of Digital Development held a meeting with the heads of the largest Russian internet resources. 23:06 02.04.2026 IA Amitel - Barnaul

      The police commented on the news about mass checking of phones for VPN. The news turned out to be fake. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia denied reports of checks on citizens' phones for the presence of VPN and messengers. 23:09 02.04.2026 Om1.Ru - Omsk

      Digital barrier: authorities want to shift the fight against VPN to the largest online platforms. According to sources, starting from mid-April, restrictions may be introduced for users with VPN enabled. Image: 19:04 02.04.2026 Yugopolis - Krasnodar

      The Ministry of Internal Affairs denied reports of checking phones due to the use of VPN. The department also reported that the mere use of VPN services does not violate current Russian legislation. 18:58 02.04.2026 Top68.Ru - Tambov

      Popular services and marketplaces may be involved in blocking VPN. Photo: Pavel Borisenko / MR7. The head of the Ministry of Digital Development, Maksut Shadaev, at a meeting with business representatives demanded that popular companies restrict access to their online platforms for users with VPN applications enabled. 18:22 02.04.2026 My District - St. Petersburg

      Stores and popular resources will be involved in blocking VPN. Photo: Dmitry Kandinsky / vtomske.ru. The Ministry of Digital Development asked the largest internet platforms in Russia to help block VPN. 22:17 02.04.2026 News.VTomske.Ru - Tomsk

      RBC: Large Russian platforms called to restrict access for clients with VPN. Photo: depositphotos/prykhodov. The head of the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation, Maksut Shadaev, held a meeting with the heads of the largest Russian resources by the number of active users. 17:58 02.04.2026 M24.Ru - Moscow

      The Ministry of Internal Affairs explained whether they check phones for VPN presence. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia denied information that police check citizens' phones for the use of VPN services. 18:52 02.04.2026 Gubdaily.Ru - Petrozavodsk

      The Ministry of Digital Development wants large websites and services to start fighting VPN themselves. The Ministry of Digital Development is discussing with the largest internet companies the involvement of businesses in restricting access to VPN services. 17:49 02.04.2026 In the Know - Voronezh

      In Russia, a war against VPN will begin on April 15. It turned out what the authorities devised against those who circumvent restrictions. The Ministry of Digital Development held a meeting with the heads of more than 20 largest Russian online platforms and demanded to restrict access for users by April 15. 21:38 02.04.2026 KrasnoyarskMedia - Krasnoyarsk

      In Russia, a war against VPN will begin on April 15. It turned out what the authorities devised against those who circumvent restrictions. The Ministry of Digital Development held a meeting with the heads of more than 20 largest Russian online platforms