Telegram’s Pavel Durov Says Russia’s VPN Crackdown Caused Payment System Failure

Moscow, April 4 — Telegram founder Pavel Durov has claimed that Russia’s recent attempt to block Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) led to a major technical problem affecting a domestic payment system, causing disruptions across the country.

According to reports, the outage created unexpected chaos in several public places. In Moscow, metro authorities temporarily allowed passengers to pass through turnstiles without payment due to system failures. In another incident, a regional zoo asked visitors to use cash after digital payments stopped working.

Durov suggested that the issue was linked to the government’s ongoing efforts to restrict VPN services and tighten control over internet communications. He also stated that millions of Russians were trying to bypass digital restrictions, describing the situation as a form of “digital resistance.”

Russia has been increasing its control over online communication in recent years. Authorities have blocked mobile internet services in certain areas and introduced strict regulations that allow the government to limit mass communication platforms and messaging apps. Diplomats and observers have described these actions as part of a broader crackdown on digital freedom.

Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, confirmed that a technical issue had occurred on Friday but did not provide a detailed explanation. Meanwhile, some local media reports that linked the outage to VPN blocking were reportedly removed.

Russian officials have defended the restrictions, saying they are necessary for national security. The government claims that messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram are being used by hostile groups, including foreign intelligence agencies, to carry out attacks and sabotage operations inside Russia.

Telegram has denied these allegations. The company believes the government is attempting to push citizens toward using MAX, a state-backed messaging platform that is now being introduced in schools and universities across Russia.

The situation highlights the growing tension between digital privacy, government control, and national security, as Russia continues to tighten its grip on internet communication while citizens increasingly look for ways to bypass restrictions.