• Windscribe has confirmed a ~90% reduction in traffic from Russia
  • The provider is working to restore connectivity for affected users
  • Russia's regulator is now building a new AI-driven filtering system

Windscribe has confirmed a sudden and massive drop in traffic originating from Russia, signaling that the country’s internet censor, Roskomnadzor (RKN), has launched another aggressive wave of blocks against privacy tools.

This latest blackout aligns with what experts within the country told TechRadar – RKN has been redefining its DPI-based filtering systems throughout 2025. This includes deploying more sophisticated, AI-driven methods to hunt down and extinguish the traffic coming from VPN services that were previously able to slip through the net.

For users in Russia, the situation is becoming increasingly precarious. Access to independent news, social media, and encrypted communication relies heavily on these tools, and every new wave of blocks further isolates the digital landscape behind the "Runet" curtain.

A 90% drop in traffic

Windscribe was quick to acknowledge the severe disruption, noting that its specialized tools designed to skirt state firewalls had taken a significant hit.

"We are tracking a new wave of VPN blocks in Russia," the company wrote on X. "Censorship bypass infrastructure is seeing ~90% drop in traffic. Actions are being taken to address this."

This isn't just a standard service fluctuation; a 90% drop indicates a highly effective, targeted effort by state regulators to sever connections that use obfuscation techniques

We are tracking a new wave of VPN blocks in Russia. Censorship bypass infrastructure is seeing ~90% drop in traffic. Actions are being taken to address this. pic.twitter.com/S4zO6WIxRqJanuary 20, 2026

While Windscribe and other top-tier providers constantly update their protocols to hide traffic, making VPN data look like regular HTTPS browsing, Russian censors are simultaneously evolving their Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) capabilities to detect these disguises.

However, the provider confirmed that a fix is already underway, noting: "Solution rollout has started. Seeing increased usage patterns."

AI-Powered Censorship: A New Threat

The timing of this blockade appears to be no 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 shift in internet regulation. Traditional blocking methods often relied on blacklisting specific IP addresses or known VPN protocols. An AI-powered system, however, can theoretically "learn" to recognize the behavioral patterns of VPN traffic in real-time, even when it is obfuscated.

This would allow the regulator to throttle or sever connections dynamically without needing to manually identify every new server a VPN provider spins up.

This latest crackdown follows a clear pattern of escalation. As TechRadar has previously reported, Russia has systematically targeted VPNs and encrypted apps throughout the last few years. What began with blocking websites expanded to banning specific VPN providers, and eventually evolved into a legislative crackdown that criminalized the promotion of VPN services.

The targets have also broadened. It is no longer just political news sites that are in the crosshairs; censorship has seeped into everyday entertainment and gaming platforms, with services like Roblox and FaceTime facing intermittent restrictions as collateral damage in the state's quest for total information control.

What Can Users Do?

For now, the advice for those inside Russia remains consistent: redundancy 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 strong obfuscation features. We then suggest checking out our best free VPN page to download only the most secure freebies.

While the introduction of AI filtering presents a daunting technical challenge, providers like Windscribe are historically quick to adapt. As the provider noted, solutions are already rolling out, proving that while the censorship dragnet is tightening, the tools to cut through it are getting sharper, too.

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Source: TechRadar