Since Russia ratcheted up control over the internet this year, some Russians are turning to solutions like using multiple phones and VPNs to evade restrictions
In a quiet cafe popular for its free Wi-Fi and good coffee, a Russian interior designer logs onto a virtual private network …
Context & Ripple Effects
Russia’s current tightening follows a longer arc: laws enacted in 2017 targeted VPN use and messenger-user identification, while the 2022 invasion period drove a sharp rise in VPN downloads. The latest coverage indicates that circumvention has become a recurring response rather than a temporary spike.
Related reporting in April described throttling of popular apps and intermittent connectivity cuts drawing criticism from a broad set of Russians. The move toward VPNs and multiple devices matters because it shows users adapting their everyday communications and access habits to a less reliable, more controlled network.
First-order effects
- Russian users seeking unrestricted access face added cost and friction, relying on VPNs, separate phones, and workarounds as ordinary connectivity becomes less dependable.
- VPN and other anti-censorship providers serving Russian users gain demand, while authorities face a more dispersed set of circumvention methods to detect or block.
Second-order effects
- App publishers, online services, and advertisers must contend with a Russian audience whose access can vary by network, device, and VPN availability, making reach and service reliability less predictable.
- The contest shifts from blocking individual services toward blocking or degrading the tools that enable access, encouraging users to diversify providers and devices rather than depend on one workaround.
Third-order effects
- If this pattern persists, Russia’s internet will become more segmented: a controlled default experience for many users alongside a technically and financially costlier parallel route for those able to circumvent restrictions.
- The recurring cycle of restrictions and circumvention could entrench demand for privacy and anti-censorship infrastructure, while making digital access increasingly contingent on users’ resources and technical literacy.
The trend: This is one data point in the continuing fragmentation of national internet access, in which state controls prompt users and connectivity providers to build parallel paths around them.