---
title: "Kremlin confirms that Russia has blocked WhatsApp"
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "World"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-02-12-kremlin-confirms-that-russia-has-blocked-whatsapp/"
published: "2026-02-12T12:40:30"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 36
---

# Kremlin confirms that Russia has blocked WhatsApp

By Reuters · Published 12 February 2026, 14:40 SAST

## Content

The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russia has blocked Meta's META.O WhatsApp messaging service and suggested that people use MAX, a new state-backed platform, instead.

(Reporting by Reuters, Writing by Felix Light; editing by Mark Trevelyan)