On the evening of April 14, 2026, users connecting to VPNs to protect data or access specific content encountered unexpected problems. Many Yandex apps, leading marketplaces, and some official government resources became unavailable. The service-owning companies introduced the restrictions, citing regulator requirements.
Those who accessed Yandex.Weather, Kinopoisk, or Yandex Pay with an active VPN saw a system message about the inability to access—a window that cannot be skipped or closed. Similar barriers appeared for Wildberries and Ozon users. Simultaneously, some of the audience reported problems loading government portals, indicating a more subtle configuration of traffic filtering in the Russian segment of the Internet.
For ordinary users, this means that the usual way to bypass geographical restrictions or increase privacy may now block access to legitimate Russian services. TelecomDaily CEO Denis Kuskov noted that combating blocking circumvention requires significant resources, and its long-term effectiveness is questionable: if access to a service is important, users usually find a way to get it.
So far, companies have not disclosed whether the restrictions will affect web versions, mobile applications, or all formats simultaneously. Those who depend on stable access to Russian platforms are advised to anticipate alternative connection scenarios in advance—for example, the ability to quickly switch between networks or use services without blocking circumvention tools when necessary.
Read more on the topic:
- "Kommersant": Ministry of Digital Development Puts Platforms Before a Choice - Benefits or User Traffic with Circumvention of Blocking
- VPN Hole in the Budget: Head of Piter-IX Names the Price of Fragmenting the Russian Internet with 20% Traffic Growth
- Access with a Filter: RuStore Explores Launching Its Own VPN