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Russia Targets VPNs in Internet Crackdown Post-Ukraine Invasion

4/2/2026

27 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Federal Security Service (FSB) plans to monitor information technology firms for VPN usage and may remove them from a tax registry.
Digital Minister Maksut Shadayev said the government aims to cut VPN use after President Vladimir Putin's order.
The crackdown is part of a broader push to tighten internet censorship since the Ukraine invasion.
Authorities have blocked over 400 VPNs and restricted access to foreign platforms.

History

Historical Context

The "Yarovaya Law," enacted in 2016, significantly expanded state surveillance in Russia, allowing the Federal Security Service (FSB) to monitor online activities of over 100 million users. This law reflects a broader trend of increasing censorship, as authorities have blocked over 400 VPNs, raising serious concerns about freedom of expression and access to information in a country where press freedom ranks 164 out of 180 globally.

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Story summary

Federal Security Service (FSB) plans to monitor information technology firms for VPN usage and may remove them from a tax registry.
Digital Minister Maksut Shadayev said the government aims to cut VPN use after President Vladimir Putin's order.
The crackdown is part of a broader push to tighten internet censorship since the Ukraine invasion.
Authorities have blocked over 400 VPNs and restricted access to foreign platforms.

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