On Tuesday, the Russian president signed a document under which Russia would develop its own messaging app to replace popular messaging services like WhatsApp, web Telegram, and Signal.
On June 24, 2025, news emerged about Russia developing its own state-sponsored messaging app to reduce citizen dependence on end-to-end encrypted messaging services like WhatsApp. According to sources online, one of the goals of such a document or law would be to integrate the new application into government services, thus allowing for stricter information control and stepping towards technological independence inside Russia.
What is the App Replacing web Telegram About?
While the exact specifications of the app replacing web Telegram and other services remain unknown, the application is likely to have functionality very similar to that of WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, and other messenger platforms.
According to some outlets, this step may be related to the so-called “Sovereign Internet Law” of 2019, which enables the Russian government to “cut off” Russia from Internet globally and use something akin to an intranet instead. That strategy itself may be related to Russia’s “digital sovereignty,” promoted by using Russian services instead of the services produced in the West.
As per the news agency TASS, the Russian messaging app replacing web Telegram is expected to handle hundreds of thousands of users a day with ease and also include features for signing documents and the like. It remains to be seen whether the messaging app will integrate with the Russian social media giants VK, Rambler, or others, but regardless, researchers say that the app may be very similar to that of the WeChat app developed in China and is likely to come pre-installed on smartphones, tablets, and other devices.
How to Stay Safe Online?
Russia may be doing developing its own replacement for web Telegram to take further steps towards its technological independence and security, and with that, many of us may be asking ourselves is our data safe too? Check on that with data breach search engines like BreachDirectory – by searching through hundreds of data breaches, the data breach search engine by BreachDirectory allows you to quickly and easily understand whether your data is at risk of identity theft or not:
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FAQ
What is the Russian Web Telegram Replacement About?
On June 24, 2025, it became known that the Russian government had started developing an app with the aim of replacing popular messaging services like WhatsApp and Telegram. One of the aims of such a service is to further Russian digital sovereignty.
Are WhatsApp, Telegram, and Other Services Safe to Use?
Yes, encrypted messengers like WhatsApp and Telegram are still safe to use since they use end-to-end encryption to encrypt chats and telephone calls.
How Can I Stay Safe Online?
To stay safe online, consider using data breach search engines to search for your exposure in data breaches, as well as keep up good cyber hygiene by using VPN services to browse the Web, using unique passwords everywhere you go, and not sharing unnecessary information with those who don’t need to know it.