Roskomnadzor, Russia's internet regulatory body, has gone after 212VPN applications available on the Google Play Store as part of their ongoing efforts towards increased censorship.
From March 12 to April 1, 2025, a total of 214 app takedown requests were processed. These actions impacted several applications. best VPNs And accounted for more than 90% of all removal requests submitted to Google within that timeframe.
However, Google seems to be opposing Russia's requirements, as only 6 out of the 212 VPN applications targeted remain inaccessible on the Google Play Store.
A total of 47 requests were dispatched on March 12. , which spurred the anti-censorship group, GreatFire , to investigate.
The GreatFire's App Censorship Project examined 399 VPN applications, with 346 (or 87%) still accessible on the Russian Google Play Store.
Google is mostly holding its ground against Russian censorship. However, we believe it should not adhere to any demands aimed at enhancing government control over information.
Even though 87% are still accessible, it’s frustrating that 13% of the VPNs have been taken down.
53 VPNs unavailable
Of the 399 VPN applications tested, 53 were not available on the Russian Google Play Store.
Out of the 212 targeted applications, six remain inaccessible; among these, two have been unavailable since at least 2023, another has had limited availability starting mid-2024, and the current accessibility status for the last three remains uncertain.
An additional six specific VPN services were removed from the global version of the Play Store. The timing and rationale behind their removal remain ambiguous.
GreatFire identified 47 extra inaccessible VPN applications that weren't particularly singled out in recent demands. Out of these, 20 have been unreachable since the beginning of 2024 or before.
Requests for URL take-downs were also discovered by GreatFire. The initial notification, dated March 10, 2025, called for the removal of more than 40,608 URLs from Google Web Search as per Russia’s “VPN law” – a regulation they have been implementing. strictest in the world .
An additional notification sent out on March 26 focused on over 43,099 web addresses. Further demands were made regarding material connected to the conflict in Ukraine, issues related to the LGBTQ+ community, poems, and music tracks.
Benjamin Ismail, the Campaign and Advocacy Director at GreatFire, stated, "The Russian government is conducting a comprehensive assault on VPNs and similar technologies that allow Russian citizens to circumvent censorship and surveillance."
Ismail noted that systematically targeting numerous VPN services and vast numbers of URLs effectively amounts to an overall prohibition on VPN use, irrespective of official declarations stating that using these tools remains within legal boundaries.
He continued by stating that "Google's moves will significantly influence the impact of Russian governmental censorship."
Effect on top-rated VPNs
Many top-tier VPN services are presently absent from the Russian Google Play Store. NordVPN , Surfshark , and ExpressVPN Currently, our leading three service providers are all unable to assist.
The GreatFire data indicates that NordVPN was taken off the list in December 2023 after disconnecting its Russian servers back in 2019. The information also reveals that Surfshark was delisted in March 2024, whereas ExpressVPN’s removal occurred sometime between June and August 2024.
Surfshark informed Tom's Guide that they had "stopped all activities" in Russia by March 2022, stating that they do not operate within the country nor maintain any servers there. NordVPN and ExpressVPN were likewise contacted for additional information.
Private Internet Access (PIA) and CyberGhost There are two additional major players that are not accessible. According to GreatFire data, PIA was taken down at some point between May and December 2024. Similarly, CyberGhost was removed from availability sometime between June and September 2024.
Two of the most private VPNs , Proton VPN and Mullvad , can still be downloaded from the Russian Google Play Store.
All this information has been documented by GreatFire, but Tom's Guide cannot confirm it firsthand.
ProtonVPN is among the few services providing actual server locations within Russia. They have over 50 additional servers, all based in Moscow, along with three more. Secure Core Servers. Additionally, ProtonVPN comes with several anti-censorship features intended to circumvent online censorship.
Even though it was no longer available, ExpressVPN was among those mentioned in the removal requests from March 13. IPVanish Was also added to this list but continues to be accessible on the Russian Google Play Store.
If you've got these VPNs installed, they ought to function in Russia. Nevertheless, considering Russia’s fluctuating and advanced web censorship, this can’t be guaranteed.
When Russia interfered with internet access in multiple areas. In December 2024, both local websites and international platforms like YouTube and Google became inaccessible, even when using a virtual private network (VPN).
VyprVPN is regarded as one of the best Russia VPNs Thanks to its Chameleon protocol, it is now accessible on the Russian version of the Google Play Store.
How to Obtain aVPN in Russia
Should the VPN you want be accessible for download, you may obtain it using this method. However, some VPNs remain usable even after being taken down from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
A number of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) can be obtained directly via GitHub; ProtonVPN provides this choice. Should you seek out one such service, best Android VPNs Then, F-Droid is a great place to check out.
Certain VPNs can be directly downloaded from their provider’s website, and numerous options also provide Chrome extensions. best Chrome VPN extensions do not have as many features as the complete VPN offering, yet they can serve as a crucial resource for individuals facing censorship.
NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, Proton VPN, and others all offer a Chrome extension. Windscribe Free is a widely favored free add-on option and alongside Proton VPN Free and PrivadoVPN Free This is one of the best free VPNs out there.
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