The most reliable way to bypass the blockades of Russian authorities is to use a quality VPN service.
Russian WhatsApp users have noticed a banner above their chats with the words "Having connection issues? Find out what options you have."
Clicking on the banner opens a help center page titled "Connecting to WhatsApp with a Non-Working Network," The Bell reported on February 27.
The guide presents three options for what to do if there are difficulties connecting: choose another Wi-Fi network, connect using a VPN, or use a proxy server.
As noted by The Bell, the company provided one "truly effective piece of advice" — use a reliable VPN.
WhatsApp stated on February 12 that Russian authorities attempted to completely block the messenger and promised to "do everything possible to keep users connected."
Roskomnadzor has been blocking WhatsApp in Russia since the summer of 2025, when video calls stopped working. However, by the end of February 2026, some users had no issues with the messenger.
Russian authorities are also restricting Telegram's operations. According to Russian media, Roskomnadzor plans to completely block it on April 1.
