Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a new law granting the country’s main domestic intelligence agency, the FSB, expanded powers to shut down internet access within Russia.
The legislation, signed on February 20, 2026, is the latest in a series of measures significantly increasing the authorities’ ability to restrict news and information online.
Under the new law, the FSB can now order internet service providers, whether mobile or fixed-line, to disable or limit access in cases defined by presidential regulatory acts. This effectively allows Putin to decide when online communications nationwide or regionally must be restricted, without being required to provide a reason.
The law also removes any legal responsibility for providers who comply with these orders.
“Only the president can impose restrictions,” said Sarkis Darbinyan, a lawyer and long-time internet activist. He noted that presidential decrees are even simpler than government orders.
In recent months, Russian authorities have been dealing with the threat of Ukrainian drones entering Russian airspace, which sometimes use Russian data signals to navigate toward targets over long distances.
The government has also tightened restrictions on popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram. Both have been slowed down in an effort to push Russian citizens to use a state-backed app called Max. Telegram is reportedly scheduled to be completely blocked starting April 1, 2026.
Restrictions on Telegram have sparked backlash from bloggers who closely follow Russia’s moves on the Ukrainian battlefield and raise funds for Russian units. The app is widely used by Russian soldiers as well.
Russia’s technology regulator, Roskomnadzor, has accused Telegram, founded by entrepreneur Pavel Durov, now in exile, of creating a market for leaked personal information of Russian citizens.
