Finance

Telegram's Durov says Russia triggered payment system problem by blocking VPNs

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on April 4, 2026

1 min read

· Last updated: April 6, 2026

Add as preferred source on Google
Telegram's Durov says Russia triggered payment system problem by blocking VPNs
Global Banking & Finance Awards 2026 — Call for Entries

MOSCOW, April 4 (Reuters) - Telegram founder Pavel Durov said on Saturday Russia's attempt to block Virtual Private Networks triggered a problem with a domestic payment system, adding that tens of

Russia’s VPN Crackdown Triggers Widespread Payment System Chaos and Bank Failures

Impact of Russia's VPN Ban on Financial Systems

Disruption to Domestic Payment Systems

MOSCOW, April 4 (Reuters) - Telegram founder Pavel Durov said on Saturday Russia's attempt to block Virtual Private Networks triggered a problem with a domestic payment system, adding that tens of millions of Russians were now resisting the digital controls.

Consequences for Everyday Transactions

The issue sowed chaos on Friday for some ​shoppers, forcing the Moscow metro to allow entry without payment through its turnstiles, while a regional ​zoo had to ask visitors to ​use cash.

Public Response and Digital Resistance

"Their blocking attempts just triggered a massive banking failure," Durov said on Telegram. "Welcome back to the Digital Resistance, my Russian brothers and sisters. The entire nation is now mobilised to bypass these absurd restrictions."

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

Key Takeaways

  • Russia’s VPN blockade triggered cascading failures in domestic digital payments, prompting temporary workarounds like free metro access and cash-only entry at a zoo, as noted by Durov (Reuters)
  • The VPN crackdown is part of a broader, intensifying digital censorship campaign—Apple removed VPN apps, mobile carriers disabled Apple ID payments, and authorities plan fines, fees, and blocks to severely reduce VPN use (TechRadar)
  • Amid the “great internet crackdown,” over 469 VPN services have already been blocked, mobile internet was disrupted across Moscow, and users surged VPN usage by 800% seeking to circumvent restrictions (VPNSuper; Chatham House)

References

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Russia's VPN block affect the payment system?
Russia’s attempt to block VPNs triggered a problem with the domestic payment system, leading to widespread banking disruptions.
What was Telegram founder Pavel Durov's response to the incident?
Pavel Durov said that the blocking attempts caused a massive banking failure, and called on Russians to resist digital controls.
How were Russian shoppers impacted by the payment system disruption?
Some shoppers faced chaos at payment terminals, forcing organizations like Moscow metro to allow entry without payment and some locations to accept cash only.
What actions were taken in response to the payment issues?
The Moscow metro allowed passengers to enter without payment, and a regional zoo requested visitors to pay with cash.

Tags

Related Articles

More from Finance

Explore more articles in the Finance category