Russians who use Google services may soon face disruptions, according to Darius Khalitov, Vice President for Information Technology at Rostelecom.
In an interview with RTVI, Khalitov warned that services such as Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Mobile Services (which include features like maps, weather, and notifications) could be blocked or become harder to access for Android users.
"There’s a significant risk that these services could be blocked," Khalitov said.
He pointed out that all foreign services might become unavailable, or using them could become increasingly inconvenient.
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Khalitov urged Russian users to understand that foreign services “may disappear altogether” or become progressively harder to access.
"This is, unfortunately, the reality we are living in," he added.
He noted that while Android phones won’t completely lose their functionality, users could face substantial limitations.
"If desired, YouTube services and Android-based phones may not exactly turn into a pumpkin, but users might experience certain difficulties," Khalitov explained.
Google Services Under Threat
Earlier this year, Rostelecom reported issues with Google’s equipment in Russia, leading to slower YouTube video uploads. Russian authorities then began restricting access to YouTube, reportedly in response to what they described as violations of Russian laws.
Google also stopped allowing new accounts to be created with Russian phone numbers. The Ministry of Digital Development has advised Russians to back up their data and switch to Russian alternatives.
Despite the challenges, Google has promised to continue supporting free services in Russia.
