Russian Messaging Apps Hit by DDoS Attack

Russian users faced difficulties accessing Telegram and WhatsApp due to a DDoS attack. The issue also affected Wikipedia, Skype, and Discord. Russian authorities have previously disrupted services like YouTube and continue blocking apps like Telegram and Meta's platforms, citing security and regulatory concerns.

Russian users of Telegram and WhatsApp experienced disruptions on Wednesday due to a DDoS attack, according to the state communications monitoring service.

The agency confirmed the attack had been repelled and that the messaging networks were back to normal. Reports indicate that Wikipedia, Skype, and Discord were also affected. The agency attributed the disruption to a DDoS attack on Russian telecom operators but did not specify the perpetrators.

This incident follows a mass outage of YouTube reported by Russian internet monitoring services weeks ago. The event highlights ongoing tensions as Russian authorities intensify scrutiny of online platforms, previously labeling Meta Platforms Inc.—WhatsApp's parent company—an extremist organization, thereby banning Facebook and Instagram in the country.

(With inputs from agencies.)