Following the ban of popular kids game Roblox, Russia has gone ahead to put restrictions on Apple’s Facetime and Snapchat. The country’s communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, announced that voice and video calling for the two apps will be disabled nationwide.

The move comes in continuation to a series of similar actions targeting platforms not developed or operated within Russia. Russian State media previously claimed that Snapchat was being used to coordinate unlawful activities, while FaceTime was flagged for potential misuse. This decision is part of Russia’s wider effort to tighten control over foreign-owned digital services. In August, Roskomnadzor placed partial limits on WhatsApp and Telegram, restricting voice calls while leaving text messaging and other features intact.

The regulator said these steps were necessary to curb criminal activity, claiming repeated requests to the platforms to act against unlawful accounts had gone unanswered. Despite restrictions, many residents have reportedly turned to VPN services to bypass limitations on WhatsApp and Telegram. Lawmakers have consistently urged citizens to switch to domestic platforms, arguing that foreign apps operate outside Russian regulatory influence. As of now, Roskomnadzor has not clarified whether the restrictions on FaceTime and Snapchat are temporary or permanent.

The watchdog has previously taken similar steps against other Western platforms, including Duolingo, which had to remove references to LGBTQ content after warnings from regulators. A spokesperson for Roskomnadzor said the measures were aimed at preventing misuse: “These platforms are being exploited by criminals and extremists. Restrictions are necessary to protect citizens and national security.” READ MORE: Russia bans popular kids game Roblox over LGBTQ content and safety concerns