The new VPN law in Russia 2025 introduces fines for advertising and using VPNs. The law banning VPN advertising was signed, effective September 1, 2025. Essence of the law: restrictions on searching for and bypassing blocks, fines up to 500,000 rubles.
Effective September 1, 2025, a VPN law came into force in Russia, establishing strict restrictions on the advertising and promotion of circumvention tools, including VPN services. The 2025 law banning VPN advertising in Russia has caused widespread public resonance, as it affects not only providers but also ordinary users.
The VPN Law in Russia 2025 (No. 281-FZ dated July 31, 2025) was signed by President Vladimir Putin and officially came into force on September 1, 2025. It amends the Code of Administrative Offences (Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation) and the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, regulating the use and advertising of VPN services. The main goal of the new VPN law is to combat the spread of extremist materials and ensure control over access to banned resources.
Key provisions of the law banning VPN advertising:
Advertising of software and hardware tools that allow bypassing blocks, including VPNs, is prohibited.
Fines are introduced for the intentional search for extremist materials using VPNs.
Using a VPN to commit crimes is now considered an aggravating circumstance.
The 2025 Law on Banning VPNs in Russia does not introduce a complete ban on the use of the technology, but significantly tightens control over its use for illegal purposes. This is confirmed by statements from the head of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Sergei Boyarsky, who noted that the bona fide use of VPNs for data protection or remote work remains legal.
The VPN law effective September 1, 2025, introduces the following changes:
Ban on Advertising VPN Services
According to Article 14.2 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation, advertising VPNs and other circumvention tools is now considered an administrative offense. Fines for violations:
Citizens: 50,000–80,000 rubles.
Officials: 80,000–150,000 rubles.
Legal entities: 200,000–500,000 rubles.
For repeated violations, fines increase up to 1 million rubles for legal entities.
Fines for Searching for Extremist Materials
The new Article 13.53 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation establishes liability for the intentional search for extremist materials included in the registry of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation (as of September 2025 — about 5,400 entries). The fine for citizens is 3,000–5,000 rubles. Using a VPN to access such materials does not aggravate guilt but may serve as indirect evidence of intentional actions.
VPN as an Aggravating Circumstance
According to the amendment to Article 63 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (Law No. 282-FZ), the use of a VPN when committing crimes, including extremist or terrorist activities, is now considered an aggravating circumstance. This may lead to harsher punishment.
Additional Restrictions
The law also introduces fines for:
Transfer of login data for internet resources to third parties.
Illegal transfer of subscriber numbers.
Use of virtual PBXs in circumvention of legislation.
|
Violation |
Fine for citizens |
Fine for officials |
Fine for legal entities |
|
Advertising VPN services |
50,000–80,000 rubles |
80,000–150,000 rubles |
200,000–500,000 rubles |
|
Repeated violation of VPN advertising |
100,000–200,000 rubles |
200,000–300,000 rubles |
800,000–1,000,000 rubles |
|
Intentional search for extremist materials |
3,000–5,000 rubles |
— |
— |
|
Using a VPN when committing crimes |
Aggravating circumstance |
— |
— |
The law on the use of VPNs does not prohibit the use of the technology for lawful purposes. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a tool for creating a secure connection, widely used for:
Data protection: encrypting traffic to prevent leaks when connecting to public Wi-Fi.
Remote work: ensuring secure access to corporate networks.
Access to permitted resources: using foreign services blocked at the initiative of foreign companies (e.g., ChatGPT, GitHub).
However, the 2025 law banning VPNs in Russia clearly states that using a VPN to bypass blocks on prohibited resources or to search for extremist materials may entail punishment. For example, access to social networks recognized as extremist (Instagram1, TikTok) is permitted if the user does not intentionally search for prohibited content.
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The adopted VPN law is aimed at strengthening control over the internet space and combating cybercrime. According to the Regional Public Center for Internet Technologies, 60.3% of Russians use VPNs to access blocked social networks, 33.9% for news sites, and 21.8% for watching movies and listening to music. The mass use of VPNs to bypass blocks has led to tighter legislation.
The VPN law also responds to the growth of illegal actions using VPNs, including fraud and the spread of extremist materials. Minister of Digital Development Maksut Shadaev emphasized that the law is aimed at regulating the activities of providers and platforms, not at punishing ordinary users.
To avoid violating the law on VPN fines, follow these recommendations:
Do not advertise VPN services: avoid publishing materials, instructions, or links related to bypassing blocks.
Use VPNs only for lawful purposes: for example, for data protection or access to permitted resources.
Check the Ministry of Justice registry: before searching for content, make sure it is not included in the list of extremist materials.
Work with verified providers: avoid dubious VPN applications that may collect your data.
1. When does the VPN law come into force?
The VPN law is already in effect since September 1, 2025. It was signed by Vladimir Putin on July 31, 2025, and officially published on the portal of legal acts.
2. What VPN law was adopted in Russia?
The 2025 Law on Banning VPN Advertising in Russia (No. 281-FZ) prohibits the advertising of circumvention tools and introduces fines for the intentional search for extremist materials. Using a VPN for crimes is recognized as an aggravating circumstance (No. 282-FZ).
3. Is it possible to use a VPN in Russia?
Yes, the law on the use of VPNs does not prohibit the technology for lawful purposes, such as data protection or remote work. However, bypassing blocks on prohibited resources may entail liability.
4. What fines are provided for violating the VPN law?
Fines for advertising VPNs are 50,000–80,000 rubles for citizens, 80,000–150,000 for officials, and 200,000–500,000 for legal entities. For searching for extremist materials — 3,000–5,000 rubles.
5. Does the law prohibit access to social networks via VPN?
No, access to social networks (e.g., Instagram1, TikTok) is permitted if the user does not search for extremist content. Accidental viewing of prohibited materials is not punished.
6. When will the law banning VPNs come into force?
There is no complete ban on VPNs. The law banning VPN advertising has been in effect since September 1, 2025, and the use of a VPN for crimes is considered an aggravating circumstance.
The new VPN law in Russia 2025 tightens control over the advertising and use of VPN services, but does not ban them completely. The law banning VPN advertising and fines for searching for extremist materials are aimed at combating cybercrime and protecting the information space. It is important for users to comply with the law, use VPNs only for lawful purposes, and avoid advertising such services to avoid facing fines. Keep track of legislative updates and the Ministry of Justice registry to remain within the legal framework.
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