The Meta-owned messaging service revealed this in a brief statement shared on its verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday.
WhatsApp has accused the Russian government of attempting to fully block its messaging platform in the country, calling the move an effort to drive users toward a state-owned alternative.
The Meta-owned service made the claim in a brief statement shared on its verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday.
“Today the Russian government attempted to fully block WhatsApp in an effort to drive people to a state-owned surveillance app,” the company said.
WhatsApp warned that such restrictions would undermine private and secure communication for millions of users in Russia.
“Trying to isolate over 100 million users from private and secure communication is a backwards step and can only lead to less safety for people in Russia,” the statement added.
The company did not provide further details about the attempted block or whether services had been restored at the time of the announcement.
Widely used for both personal and business communication, WhatsApp said it remains committed to keeping users connected in Russia.
“We continue to do everything we can to keep users connected,” the company said.
The development comes amid ongoing tensions between Russian authorities and foreign technology firms over data control, online regulation, and digital sovereignty. Russian regulators have previously imposed restrictions on multiple global social media and messaging platforms, citing national security and compliance concerns.
There was no immediate response from Russian authorities regarding WhatsApp’s claim.