Nearly Half of Russians Use Telegram for News Despite Kremlin Blocks

Regional and exile outlets stress that nearly half of Russians still rely on Telegram for news, even under heavy blocking and VPN crackdowns. They portray this as evidence that many people are willing to endure technical hurdles to reach independent reporting and foreign sources. They expect the struggle over VPNs and censorship tools to continue, with users constantly seeking new ways around state controls.

• •The Levada Center poll showing 49% of Russians reading Telegram channels is cited as proof that the platform remains central to news consumption.
• •Meduza readers in Russia report switching between multiple VPNs and mirror links to keep accessing Telegram and independent outlets.
• •Regional outlets argue that the high failure rate of Roskomnadzor’s blocking attempts shows the limits of Russia’s internet control tools.
• •Independent journalists rely on Telegram channels to distribute war coverage and investigations that are banned on Russian television.
• •Exiled media warn that further VPN crackdowns could push users toward more risky or paid tools, but are unlikely to fully cut off access to Telegram.