Russian internet censorship is massively backfiring

Russia is trying to restrict Telegram use, preventing access in some regions, in order to increase adoption of its state-backed Max messenger app.

But Max doesn't have the channels for incoming missile strikes, so residents of cities near the Ukrainian border failed to get push notifications about incoming strikes.

https://meduza.io/news/2026/03/23/zhiteli-belgorodskoy-oblasti-ne-mogut-poluchat-push-uvedomleniya-o-raketnoy-opasnosti-cherez-mah