- Windscribe has confirmed a ~90% reduction in traffic from Russia
- The provider is working to restore connectivity to affected users
- Russia’s regulator is now building a new AI-powered filtering system
Windscribe has confirmed a sudden and massive drop in traffic coming from Russia, indicating that the country’s internet censor, Roskomnadzor (RKN), has launched another aggressive wave of blocking against privacy tools.
This latest outage aligns with what the country’s experts told TechRadar: RKN has been redefining its DPI-based filtering systems throughout 2025. This includes implementing more sophisticated AI-powered methods to hunt down and extinguish traffic coming from VPN services that could previously be filtered through the network.
For users in Russia, the situation is increasingly precarious. Access to independent news, social media and encrypted communications relies heavily on these tools, and each new wave of lockdowns further isolates the digital landscape behind the “Runet” curtain.
A 90% drop in traffic
“We are tracking a new wave of VPN blocking in Russia,” the company wrote on X. “Censorship bypass infrastructure is experiencing a ~90% drop in traffic. Steps are being taken to address this.”
This is not just a standard service fluctuation; a 90% drop indicates a highly effective and targeted effort by state regulators to cut off connections that use obfuscation techniques.
We are following a new wave of VPN blocking in Russia. The censorship bypass infrastructure is experiencing a traffic drop of approximately 90%. Steps are being taken to address this. pic.twitter.com/S4zO6WIxRqJanuary 20, 2026
While Windscribe and other top-tier providers constantly update their protocols to disguise traffic, making VPN data look like normal HTTPS browsing, Russian censors are simultaneously evolving their deep packet inspection (DPI) capabilities to detect these disguises.
However, the vendor confirmed that a solution is already being implemented, noting: “Deployment of the solution has begun. Increased usage patterns are observed.”
AI-powered censorship: a new threat
The timing of this blockage does not appear to be a coincidence. According to a recent report by Forbes Russia, Roskomnadzor is building an automated system capable of using machine learning to filter Internet traffic.
This development marks a dangerous change in Internet regulation. Traditional blocking methods often relied on blacklisting specific IP addresses or known VPN protocols. However, an AI-powered system can, in theory, “learn” to recognize behavioral patterns of VPN traffic in real time, even when obfuscated.
This would allow the regulator to dynamically throttle or cut connections without needing to manually identify each new server a VPN provider activates.
This latest repression follows a clear pattern of escalation. As TechRadar previously reported, Russia has systematically attacked VPNs and encrypted apps over the past few years. What started with blocking websites expanded to banning specific VPN providers and eventually evolved into a legislative crackdown that criminalized the promotion of VPN services.
The objectives have also been expanded. It’s no longer just political news sites that are in the crosshairs; Censorship has seeped into everyday gaming and entertainment platforms, with services like Roblox and FaceTime facing intermittent restrictions as collateral damage in the state’s quest for complete control of information.
What can users do?
For now, the advice to those inside Russia remains the same: dismissal is key. Relying on a single VPN service is risky in such a volatile environment.
Privacy experts often recommend having multiple VPNs installed, prioritizing those with powerful obfuscation features. Then we suggest that you consult our The best free VPN page to download only the safest freebies.
While the introduction of AI filtering presents a daunting technical challenge, vendors like Windscribe historically adapt quickly. As the vendor noted, solutions are already being implemented, showing that while the censorship network is tightening, the tools to traverse it are also getting sharper.
