A senior Russian official has acknowledged that fully blocking or disabling VPN services in Russia is technically unfeasible, warning that such attempts could severely disrupt the country’s internet infrastructure.
The remarks mark one of the clearest public admissions from a Kremlin-linked figure that VPN technology remains too deeply integrated into modern digital systems to be comprehensively banned.
In comments published by Russian business outlet RBC, Valery Fadeyev, head of Russia’s Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights (HRC), said that authorities have long understood the practical limitations of regulating VPN services. According to Fadeyev, efforts to completely shut down VPN access would risk breaking “the entire internet system.”
“I don’t really understand how VPNs can be regulated,” Fadeyev told RBC. “It became clear fairly quickly that this is an extremely complex system and that banning or switching off VPNs altogether is impossible.”
Fadeyev argued that VPN technology is widely used across Russia’s economy and digital infrastructure, extending far beyond its role in bypassing censorship controls. He noted that businesses, banks, software developers, and other organizations rely on encrypted communication channels and remote connectivity tools that use VPN technology.
“This is simply a tool, a closed communication channel used by millions of counterparties,” he said, adding that he had “never said VPNs should be shut down.”
The Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights is an advisory body attached to the Kremlin that formally focuses on civil liberties and public policy issues. While the council does not directly create legislation, statements from its leadership often reflect broader discussions occurring within Russian government circles.
The comments arrive as Russian authorities continue tightening internet controls and increasing pressure on VPN usage. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has expanded online censorship efforts, blocked hundreds of foreign websites and media platforms, and pushed citizens toward state-approved digital ecosystems.
VPN services have become a primary way for Russian users to access platforms and services that are blocked in Russia, including Instagram, Facebook, X, independent media outlets, and foreign news sources. Russian regulators, particularly Roskomnadzor, have repeatedly attempted to disrupt VPN providers through blacklisting, deep packet inspection (DPI), protocol bans, and traffic filtering technologies.
However, Fadeyev’s remarks suggest officials recognize the technical and economic costs of a total ban.
Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development has recently proposed additional restrictions on VPN use. In March, the ministry reportedly encouraged banks, marketplaces, and large digital platforms to limit functionality for users connecting through VPNs. Minister Maksut Shadayev also acknowledged internal discussions about introducing administrative penalties for VPN use, though he described outright punishment as an overly blunt approach.
Industry groups inside Russia have also raised concerns about aggressive blocking policies. In April, the Domestic Software Developers Association, which represents more than 300 Russian software firms, including Kaspersky, proposed creating a coordination body to develop a more balanced approach to internet blocking measures.
Despite admitting that VPNs cannot realistically be eliminated, Fadeyev criticized Russians who use them to access banned media outlets. He claimed some foreign or blocked publications distribute “enemy propaganda” rather than alternative viewpoints, framing the issue as one of “civic consciousness” rather than legal enforcement.
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