Moscow moves to throttle Telegram as Kremlin pushes its own messaging app

Russia’s regulator Roskomnadzor confirmed deliberate throttling of Telegram over alleged legal violations, triggering widespread slowdowns, court cases, and fines, while officials promote a state-backed alternative; critics—including regional authorities and military bloggers—warn the move endangers public safety and wartime communications, and it comes amid broader internet controls such as regional mobile internet cuts and a 24-hour blackout for travelers with foreign SIMs.