Reported signals from Russian VPN users indicate intermittent disruption of several services, suggesting possible state-led blocking of VPN programs within the Russian Federation. The information circulates through a Telegram channel linked to a Moscow State University economist and professor and is reflected in summaries by a national news service in its coverage.
Based on user feedback from major telecom providers such as Beeline, Rostelecom, MTS and others, there appears to be active testing aimed at blocking OpenVPN-based VPN connections in Russia. A widely cited figure in discussions on the Telegram channel estimates that roughly 25 million Russians currently rely on VPNs, highlighting the scale of use amid regulatory scrutiny.
Additional context about potential VPN restrictions in Russia has surfaced on a private forum. Logs from the site indicate access issues to VPN services lasting nearly an entire day, with complaints concentrated in cities including Moscow, Kazan, Krasnodar, Chelyabinsk, and Tula, among others. The breadth of reports underscores growing concern about connectivity and privacy in the current regulatory environment.
Users describe a telltale symptom of blockage: VPN connections dropping within seconds of establishment. Observers also note that the impact may be more pronounced for foreign VPN services, potentially reflecting targeted enforcement or network-level controls designed to curb cross-border traffic.
Earlier cybersecurity research highlighted the exposure of a large, unprotected database containing hundreds of millions of records related to VPN service clients. This finding raises serious questions about data security in the VPN ecosystem and the consequences of regulatory actions for user privacy and service providers alike. The situation illustrates why many users weigh the trade-offs between access, security, and compliance when considering VPN use in regions with evolving digital governance.