Russia’s communications regulator Roskomnadzor said on 13 August it has begun partially restricting voice calls on Telegram and WhatsApp, according to state news agencies Interfax and TASS. The watchdog did not specify the technical scope or duration of the measures, which apply to both domestic and international calls made through the two encrypted messaging services. Officials said the curbs are intended to curb fraud and other criminal activity that they claim is increasingly coordinated over the platforms. Text messaging and other functions were not mentioned in the announcement, leaving uncertainty over whether broader limits could follow. The step intensifies Moscow’s campaign to cut reliance on foreign digital infrastructure. President Vladimir Putin in July signed legislation commissioning a state-run messenger integrated with government services, after earlier moves that blocked Facebook, Instagram and curtailed access to YouTube. Lawmakers have also threatened to classify WhatsApp—part of Meta Platforms—as “unfriendly” software, a designation that can precede an outright ban. Industry analysts say limiting call functions could dent Telegram’s popularity in its largest market and further shrink Meta’s presence in Russia, while accelerating the Kremlin’s push for digital sovereignty through a home-grown alternative.