Telegram availability for users in Russia has decreased to 19% by March 22, 2026, according to data from the OONI (Open Observatory of Network Interference) research project. This refers to the proportion of successful connections to the messenger's servers from the Russian network. Before March 13, the indicator remained above 94%, but a sharp decline began on March 20. As of the current date, the opposite situation is observed: in most attempts, the connection fails. The source is monitoring by independent network observers, and the data is published by the specialized resource "Code Durov." The measurements are based on connection tests that record access to the service from different regions of the country.
Dynamics of Telegram Availability in Russia, OONI Data
- Until and including March 13, the level of successful connections to Telegram did not fall below 94%. This means that errors occurred only in a limited number of cases.
- From March 14 to 19, the indicator decreased to the range of 78–87%. Even with restrictions, this was considered a high level of connection stability.
- A sharp deterioration began on March 20. Availability fell to 26%, and by March 22 reached 19%. Thus, about 80% of connection attempts end in error.
Comparison with WhatsApp in terms of connection availability
For comparison, OONI provides data on WhatsApp. Since the beginning of 2026, the availability of this service in Russia has not exceeded 18%.
The average indicator remains at around 10%, which is lower than the current level of Telegram, but comparable in terms of the scale of restrictions.
Technical context of network restriction measurements
OONI records the availability of services through a distributed network of tests performed from user devices. The measurements take into account successful and unsuccessful connection attempts, as well as the nature of network errors.
This methodology allows identifying access restrictions, including traffic filtering and disruptions at the level of telecom operators.
A decrease to 19% means a multiple deterioration compared to the level in mid-March. The gap between 94% and the current value reflects the scale of changes over a period of less than two weeks.
