Banking issues hit Moscow metro and public services as digital controls face backlash
“Their blocking attempts just triggered a massive banking failure,” Telegram founder Pavel Durov said on Saturday, as Russia’s efforts to block VPNs reportedly caused widespread payment disruptions. The issue affected digital transactions across parts of Russia, with services in Moscow facing immediate impact.
According to Durov, the disruption led to chaos on Friday, forcing the Moscow metro to allow passengers through without payment. A regional zoo also asked visitors to use cash after payment systems failed. He said tens of millions of Russians are now trying to bypass digital restrictions.
The problem highlights growing tension between control and access.
Russia has been tightening restrictions on Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), which are often used to bypass internet controls. Durov said these blocking attempts disrupted banking systems instead, showing how deeply connected digital infrastructure has become.
If such issues continue, it could raise concerns about how government level internet controls impact essential services like payments and transport.
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