The minister of Desenvolvimento Digital of Rússia, The measure is part of discussions held on Saturday, March 28, 2026, with representatives from the telecommunications and digital platforms sector. Authorities seek to restrict access to VPN tools that allow you to bypass blocks imposed on the network.
Representatives from large operators participated in the first meeting, while executives from companies such as Yandex, VK, Avito, Ozon and Wildberries attended the second. The central objective was to evaluate ways to limit the use of VPNs by Russian users. The proposal also includes guidelines for digital platforms to restrict services to customers who access them through these tools.
Meetings with the telecommunications sector and digital platforms
The discussions took place in two distinct stages on the same day. In the first, the focus was on mobile phone operators. In the second, the debate involved the main e-commerce platforms and digital services in the country.
Sources indicate that no final decision was adopted during the meetings. The conversations served to present the ministry’s intentions and collect the sector’s positions. Algumas companies chose not to publicly comment on the topic.
Operators were asked to create an additional charging option for high volumes of international traffic. Implementation could occur before May 1, 2026, according to initial reports. The idea aims to make the routine use of connections that go through foreign servers more expensive.
Proposals for platform restrictions and penalties
Digital platform owners were advised to limit access to users who use VPNs to browse their services. The measure seeks to reduce the effectiveness of these tools in circumventing restrictions that already exist on the Russian internet.
During the meetings, the possibility of introducing administrative penalties for the use of VPNs was also discussed. The minister expressed hope that such sanctions could be avoided, depending on the sector’s voluntary compliance. Até At the moment, official responses from several companies have not yet been released.
An internet sector source confirmed the meetings were taking place, but highlighted that implementation details remain uncertain. Questões practices, such as the treatment of Russian users who are outside the national territory, have not yet been clarified.
Blocking payments via operators for Apple services
In the same period, mobile phone operators received instructions to suspend payment for Apple services through the telephone bill balance from April 1, 2026. The measure affects balance top-ups at App Store and other company services.
Russian users have already faced limitations on payments with bank cards since 2022. Algumas operators still allowed the option via mobile account, which facilitated the acquisition of applications, including VPN services available in the store. The suspension aims to make this type of transaction more difficult.
An account manager from an operator confirmed the block and recommended that subscribers top up their Apple balances as soon as possible. The initiative is linked to discussions about restrictions on blocking bypass tools.
Context of existing fines for VPN use and advertising
In 2025, Rússia approved legislation that establishes fines for those who use VPNs to intentionally search for materials considered extremist. The amounts vary between 3 thousand and 5 thousand rubles, applicable only to deliberate access to content listed by Ministério of Justiça.
Advertising for VPN services that allow access to prohibited resources has also been subject to restrictions. Desde 2024, individuals can receive fines of 50 thousand to 80 thousand rubles for advertisements of this type. Para employees and companies, amounts reach 500 thousand rubles.
These standards are part of a broader set of rules designed to control access to blocked information. The new proposals discussed with operators and platforms represent a deepening of these initiatives.
- Mobile phone operators were invited to evaluate the technical feasibility of the fee for international traffic.
- Digital platforms received guidance to identify and restrict access via VPN.
- The blocking of Apple payments via mobile balance comes into effect at the beginning of April.
- Discussions about administrative penalties have not yet resulted in concrete decisions.
- Sector sources confirm that the practical implementation of the measures remains under analysis.
Details about the special rate on data traffic
The suggestion to charge an additional fee for consumption exceeding 15 GB of international traffic per month was presented directly to telecommunications companies. The limit aims to differentiate routine national use from access to servers located outside the country. Operadoras as VimpelCom, Megafon and T2 Mobile participated in the conversations, although many chose to remain silent in public.
Industry experts point to challenges in accurately distinguishing between legitimate traffic and VPN connections. Usuários located abroad or roaming also raise doubts about the application of the rule. Até right now, there is no clarity on how operators would automatically identify these consumption patterns.
The proposal integrates broader efforts to reduce dependence on tools that allow access to restricted content. The Russian government has intensified actions against services that facilitate browsing websites and applications blocked for regulatory or security reasons.
Digital platforms such as VK, Avito and Ozon were involved in discussions to align internal policies with the guidelines presented by the ministry. Algumas companies, like Wildberries, reported that they did not participate directly in the debates on the restrictions.
- Minister Maksut Shadayev led the two separate meetings on March 28th.
- The main focus was on limiting the use of VPNs by ordinary users.
- No final decision was announced after the meetings.
- Sources close to the sector indicate that technical studies are still necessary.
Rússia maintains a series of restrictions on foreign internet services and applications. The use of VPNs has become common among users looking to access blocked platforms. Authorities are now exploring economic and technical mechanisms to reduce this practice without relying exclusively on direct lockdowns.
The initiatives discussed reinforce control over data traffic and digital payments. The blocking of payments via mobile account for Apple services represents an additional step in this direction, especially as it directly impacts the acquisition of VPN applications.
- Fines for intentionally searching for extremist content via VPN range from 3 thousand to 5 thousand rubles.
- Advertising VPNs that access prohibited resources can generate fines of up to 500 thousand rubles for companies.
- Blocking of Apple top-ups via operators begins on April 1, 2026.
- Discussions about fees above 15 GB for international traffic are still in the initial phase.
Companies in the telecommunications and technology sector continue to evaluate requests from Ministério and Desenvolvimento Digital. Até At the moment, few official responses have been released, and the implementation of the measures depends on additional technical and operational analyses.