Moscow is tightening internet access even further as the country’s already limited online world faces new hurdles. The latest target is the popular American video site YouTube. Rostelecom, a state controlled telecommunications provider, announced on Friday that the disruption stems from technical problems. Independent Russian media, however, quote industry insiders who claim the government is deliberately slowing YouTube across the country since last Thursday.
Rostelecom explained that traffic growth has produced a heavy overloading. The company warned that this action could affect download speeds and video quality for all Russian operators. This justification aligns with what authorities have said about the service glitches at the platform. Earlier this year a similar step was taken with X, when images and videos became unusable and the platform was eventually blocked.
Since the start of the Russia Ukraine war in 2022 YouTube has suspended monetization for Russian content creators and halted all payments inside the country. The Kremlin has long accused the site and its owner Google of distributing opposition and terrorist content.
Some Russian outlets such as the state news agency TASS have begun circulating Russian built alternatives to YouTube by late June. Platforms like Platforma, Rutube, and VK Video are all developed by Russian firms. The Runet has also found substitutes for other American internet portals. While some existed before the conflict, such as VK which resembles Facebook, Telegram which mirrors WhatsApp, and Yandex similar to Google, others emerged amid tensions with the West, like Rossgram which aimed to replace Instagram. Some of the newer options have struggled to win widespread user adoption in Russia.
Runet is increasingly restricted
Roskomnadzor, the Russian telecommunications authority, has a heavy workload since the war began. In addition to hundreds of thousands of pages blocked, the agency has blocked major social networks including Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, along with numerous independent Russian and foreign media outlets. Wikipedia remains accessible for now, though it is under scrutiny.
Using a VPN is the commonly cited workaround to bypass these blocks, but access to VPN services also faces obstacles. Some VPN providers are themselves blocked or hard to reach, since many sites offering these tools may be unavailable from the country. Promoting a VPN can be a crime, which complicates internet research even though using a VPN is not illegal in Russia.
Beyond blocked portals, many global services have pulled back from the Russian market. Video game platform Steam, music service Spotify, dating app Tinder, and streaming services Netflix and Disney+ are among the firms that paused or curtailed operations in the country. With access restricted and corporate withdrawals ongoing, the online map of Russia is becoming increasingly distinct from that of the European Union.
Cited references indicate a wider pattern of state influence over digital life in Russia and growing attention to how residents connect to information and entertainment online. Attribution: multiple sources including Rostelecom statements and Russian press reporting on government actions and industry responses.