Over the past month, a third of respondents have faced the inability to access familiar digital services. The same proportion of Russians use VPN services to access the Internet. Both of these groups have grown in number since last year. Young people, more educated and affluent respondents, as well as opposition-minded citizens are more likely to say that they have encountered blockages, and use VPNs.

In March 2025, the share of respondents who had experienced an inability to access familiar digital services over the past month increased to a third (an increase of 11 percentage points over the year): In particular, one in ten regularly encountered such situations, 14% – several times in the last month, 7% – 1-2 times in the last month. Two thirds of the respondents (68%) did not encounter restrictions. Despite the increase in the share of respondents who have experienced problems with access to digital services over the past two years (since March 2023), these figures are not at their peak: three years ago, 37% of respondents said that some online platforms were unavailable.

Young people under the age of 24 (44%), those who believe that the country is moving along the wrong path (47%), as well as those who disapprove of Putin’s activities as President (49%) were most often faced with the inability to access familiar digital services. 

Over the past month, older respondents (76%), those who believe that things in the country are going in the right direction (71%), as well as those who approve of the current president’s activities (69%) have not experienced the inability to access familiar digital services.

At the same time, the number of VPN service users increased to 36% (an increase of 13 percentage points). One in five (20%) regularly uses VPNs, 16% – sometimes, another 31% do not use them now, but they are aware of this possibility, 32% of respondents hear about such services for the first time.

The share of those who use services for unhindered access to the Internet is higher among young people under 24 (62%), respondents with higher education (42%), more affluent respondents (45% among those who can afford durable goods), those who believe that things in the country are going in the wrong direction (45%), as well as those who disapprove of V. Putin’s activity as president (46%), those who watch news on TV less than once a week or almost never (57%), those who read news on the Internet every day or almost every day (46% and 47%, respectively), and those who get news from YouTube channels (62%).

The proportion of those who do not use services for unhindered Internet access is higher among older respondents (84% of the respondents), respondents with secondary education and below (68%), less affluent respondents (77% among those who barely have enough for food), those who believe that things in the country are going in the right direction (66%), those who support the activities of the current president (65%), those who watch the news on television several times every day (78%), those who read the news on the Internet less than once a week or almost never (85%), as well as those for whom the TV is a source of information (74%).