According to the company, WhatsApp continues to do everything possible to ensure that users can stay connected. It has become known that on February 11, Roskomnadzor excluded the domains of WhatsApp, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, as well as some independent media outlets from the registry of the National Domain Name System of Russia, which effectively led to a complete block of these resources in the country. As a result, users cannot access the domains of YouTube and WhatsApp either through browsers or mobile applications.
When attempting to access YouTube directly without using a VPN, users encounter an error, as the network equipment cannot establish a connection between the website addresses and their IP addresses.
On social media, Russians are actively sharing methods to bypass the blocks. For example, it is suggested to change the DNS server on the device using alternative public addresses. However, some users express concerns that authorities may track such attempts and hold individuals accountable for "searching for prohibited materials" on the internet, which became possible after the adoption of a law in 2025 that imposes a fine of up to 5000 rubles for intentional access to "extremist materials," including through the use of VPNs.
