The Department for Regulation of Combating Illegal Use of Information and Communications Technologies of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (cyberpolice) commented on messages that appeared on social networks stating that the police are checking residents’ phones for the use of VPN and instant messaging services.
Such “notes to citizens of the Russian Federation when checking their phones” began to spread on social networks in March. The regional departments of the Ministry of the Interior, for example, in the Irkutsk region, had already published rebuttals at the end of March.
A message distributed by the Russian electronic police stated, “The information referred to is incorrect and is being broadcast with the aim of increasing social tension.”
Such events are not implemented. Citizens’ phones are not checked for VPN or other apps.
The Cyber Police said in a statement that the use of VPN services “increases the risk of data leakage, but does not entail any legal liability.”
At the same time, the Ministry of Interior recalled that Russian legislation “provides for restrictions related to the dissemination of information and advertising methods to circumvent restrictions on access to illegal content.”
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At the end of March, Meduza discovered that a series of articles with similar titles had appeared in Russian regional media stating that Russians should delete Telegram from their phones by April 1, 2026 (the messenger was supposed to be completely blocked in Russia from this date). Meanwhile, pro-Kremlin tabloid Baza published an article saying Russian iPhones are overheating and failing due to the VPN. Medusa searched these posts.