For unknown reasons, Google appears to have blocked the creation of Google accounts tied to Russian phone numbers. This observation emerged after monitoring a Telegram channel that documents exploits and related issues.
According to the source, Russians are reportedly unable to create new Google accounts using their own Russian SIM cards. The authors of the observation encountered a consistent restriction when attempting registrations from five different numbers, each time receiving the error message: This number cannot be used for verification.
Speculation centers on whether this is a technical glitch on Google’s side. Online reports suggest the problem has persisted for several days. Some believe that Google may be testing a change in how verification codes are delivered, or that there could be a disruption with the service provider responsible for sending SMS verifications. Others note that the issue could stem from a broader adjustment in account security practices that inadvertently affects certain regions or numbers.
There is ongoing uncertainty about whether the restrictions are linked to sanctions or policy changes spanning the United States and other regions that could influence verification workflows. Observers are careful to distinguish between policy-driven blocks and temporary service interruptions, as both scenarios would lead to similar user experiences during the sign-up process.
In practical terms, one analysis shows mixed results depending on the device used. It was observed that attempting registration from a desktop computer sometimes triggers a verification step requiring a phone number, while registrations from Android devices may bypass or bypass certain prompts. At this stage, the exact cause remains unclear, and user experiences appear to vary across platforms and locations.
Earlier industry updates have indicated that Apple has paused certain online sales initiatives, underscoring a period of shifts in the tech landscape. While these two situations involve different ecosystems, they collectively highlight how online services across major platforms can undergo unexpected changes that impact access and usage for users worldwide.