: To avoid massive fines or imprisonment, streaming services like Yandex.Music and even artists themselves have begun pre-censoring their work.
March 2026 marked a seismic shift in Russia’s approach to audiovisual content. Federal Law No. 324-FZ, passed in July 2025, came into force, prohibiting the distribution of audiovisual works containing materials that “discredit traditional Russian spiritual and moral values and/or propagandise the rejection thereof.” The law amends existing federal information legislation and grants Roskomnadzor (Russia’s media regulator) the power to order platforms to remove flagged content within 24 hours. banned uncensored uncut music videos russia patched
Until approximately early 2025, VPNs worked reliably in Russia. That has changed dramatically. Roskomnadzor confirmed in February 2026 that it has blocked 469 VPN services. The Russian government is no longer just blocking VPN apps—it is blocking VPN protocols themselves. Users report that paid VPN subscriptions that once worked perfectly cannot maintain connections for more than a few minutes at a time. : To avoid massive fines or imprisonment, streaming
As the cat-and-mouse game between regulators and online platforms continues, it's clear that the restrictions on uncensored music videos in Russia are unlikely to be lifted anytime soon. However, with the rise of VPNs, proxies, and other evasion techniques, it's likely that many Russians will continue to access restricted content, albeit through more circuitous means. 324-FZ, passed in July 2025, came into force,
: Songs or visuals deemed "extremist" or promoting "illegal activities" are added to a federal blacklist. Common "Patched" Workarounds