‘A gut punch in the middle of campaign season’. As the Kremlin pushes its own messenger and blocks rivals, even officials are loath to use the new app

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The Russian authorities are mounting an unprecedented campaign to make Max, a messaging app developed by the state-controlled social media company VK, the country’s primary communications platform. They’ve disabled voice calls on Russia’s most popular messengers, Telegram and WhatsApp, and passed legislation requiring all new phones to come with Max pre-installed. So far, however, Russians are resisting the app, which is rife with technical issues and security concerns. Even government officials are skeptical: many have turned to alternatives like FaceTime and installed Max only on their old devices. Meduza special correspondent Andrey Pertsev explains the Kremlin’s struggle to get Russians to use its “national messenger.”

In mid-August, the Russian authorities disabled calling on the country’s most popular messaging apps, WhatsApp and Telegram. The block came amid their unprecedented push to promote Russia’s newly designated “national messenger,” Max. The Kremlin hopes to steer Russians to the domestic platform through a combination of advertising and threatening new laws.

“They made it clear [to us] that in the future, all other messengers will probably be blocked. Everyone will be forced onto Max,” a participant of the New Media Festival, held in mid-August at the Kremlin-sponsored Senezh Management Workshop, told Meduza.

The topics discussed at Senezh offer a glimpse into the Kremlin’s plans. The Workshop is a year-round training center run by the Kremlin’s “Russian is a Land of Opportunity” foundation. It organizes “personnel competitions” and courses for federal and regional officials — primarily governors and their political deputies, as well as state media employees. Participants also receive the latest directives from Putin’s administration.

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In late summer 2025, a number of key Kremlin figures addressed pro-government media staff at Senezh, including:

• Sergey Novikov, head of the Kremlin’s Public Projects Directorate
• Alexey Goreslavsky, director of the Internet Development Institute (which allocates propaganda budgets)
• Kristina Potupchik, former press secretary of the Federal Youth Agency Rosmolodezh and editor-in-chief of Moskvichka magazine
• Alexey Akopov, producer and head of the Higher School of Economics’ Film Institute
• Valery Fedorov, director of the state polling agency VTsIOM

Meduza’s source cited these guests’ off-the-record remarks as evidence that the authorities intended to go beyond blocking voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram. Shortly afterward, Russian users began reporting disruptions to Google Meet, which many had turned to as a replacement for voice calls on their usual messengers.

‘New headaches’

Another political strategist working with the Kremlin says that the call restrictions have caused “serious inconveniences” for him and everyone he knows. Now, he said, they have to arrange calls in advance, and then turn on a VPN to connect via Telegram or WhatsApp:

Free VPNs are slow, while paid ones run smoothly — no problems there. We still keep our chats on Telegram and WhatsApp. You send a message first, then call. You have to give a heads-up because people’s VPNs aren’t always on. When it is on, some apps and Russian websites don’t work, like the parking payment system.

For officials using iPhones, the most convenient way to stay in touch has become FaceTime, which was previously unpopular in Russia, according to a political strategist and a St. Petersburg official. “Even the ‘faces’ [FSB officers] started using it — maybe because of the name?” the St. Petersburg official joked. But this method isn’t universal: FaceTime is an Apple app, and it can’t be installed on Android phones.

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As a result, iOS and Android users have been seeking alternatives that work for both systems — and that haven’t yet been blocked. “People who have been working in the UAE for a while use Botim, a Dubai-based messenger. They have the same problems with [the authorities blocking calls on] WhatsApp,” said a consultant who works with the Putin administration. “A friend asked me to install [Twitch’s messenger app] Chatty — some people already have it. If something else is recommended to me, I’ll install that too. Right now, everyone’s looking for the optimal solution.”

The St. Petersburg official and two of his colleagues mentioned these same services, as well as the Armenian messenger Zangi. They all said the constant need to download new apps is one of the main difficulties the blocks have caused. They also complained about having to arrange calls with colleagues in advance.

A political consultant working on regional parliamentary elections said that the calling blocks were “a gut punch in the middle of campaign season.” Previously, managing the work of canvassers, coordinators, and local subordinates was done via WhatsApp. “Everything was in one chat; you could call someone directly or exchange files. Now, to make a call, you have to leave the chat [and go to another app]. It’s manageable but less convenient. Coordination isn’t as prompt,” he said.

He added that the call blocks “added new headaches” and forced workflow changes: “Documents are sent here, calls are made there,” but it hasn’t yet caused any major crises.

Neither the consultant, his colleague working with the Putin administration, nor the St. Petersburg official had installed Max on their main phones. All three consider the Russian app unsafe (as do independent experts). “It’s unclear what it’s tracking,” the St. Petersburg official said.”It’s obvious that some sensitive matters, like financial issues, definitely shouldn’t be discussed there. But there will be situations where Max is specifically required. For example, official work communication is already happening on it.”

The consultant said he installed Max “on his old phone.” Two regional officials who spoke to Meduza said they’d done the same.

A political strategist who works with the Kremlin and the St. Petersburg official complained about poor call quality on regular calls compared to calls on WhatsApp and Telegram. “It’s like eight-bit audio,” one said. “It used to be better, though maybe I just don’t remember.” Both say they “don’t think” the authorities are listening in on their calls.

‘They impose restrictions — we find ways around it’

All five sources said they doubt Russian users will ever move to Max en masse, despite the authorities’ push. Closed surveys conducted by the Federal Protective Service (Russia’s Secret Service) and VTsIOM indicate that Russians have reacted negatively to the call block and the push to switch to the new messenger, the Kremlin consultant said. According to the independent project Russian Field, 70 percent of respondents have disapproved of the WhatsApp and Telegram block.

A source familiar with the poll results explained:

Most people aren’t worried about Max being able to listen in or search devices. They’re upset about how they were treated. No one asked them. [The authorities] blocked the apps and said, ‘Go there.’ For some, it’s the last straw. You’re starting to hear people openly complain about the authorities — that they’re interfering in private life and daily routines.

Officials and consultants themselves expressed similar feelings about the call blocks, though they said they don’t expressed their frustration openly. “Who are you supposed to complain to? Sending a complaint is like entering the lottery. They impose restrictions — we find ways around it. It’s a familiar process now,” a regional official told Meduza.

“Politically active users won’t switch from Telegram to Max. Telegram is like a media outlet: it has insider info, leaks, rumors, and opinions that differ from the official line. Who will post that on Max when there’s a good chance of being identified?” noted the Kremlin consultant. He predicted that continuing the crackdown on services alternative to the national messenger will only push more citizens to use VPNs:

In focus groups, many participants said they don’t use VPNs because it’s borderline illegal (using VPNs is not prohibited in Russia yet). But people are only going to be cautious [about this] as long as alternatives [to Max] are available. Once they’re gone, they’ll download a VPN.

A regional official told Meduza that some Russians will be forced to install Max — such as parents of schoolchildren, medical patients, and public-sector employees — but that’s “far from everyone.” Those who don’t trust the state, he said, will install Max on old phones, like officials themselves. He predicted that most Russians “won’t let the national messenger” on their primary devices.

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