Russia plans to ban Telegram advertising from 2027, ad volume up 50%

August 18, 2026 · worldppc

More than 75% of companies used Telegram for marketing in 2025, according to ppc.world, after brands sought alternatives once Instagram advertising was banned. Roskomnadzor has throttled Telegram's network performance, and Russia's FAS said penalties for advertising on the platform will not apply until the end of 2026, ahead of an expected full ban starting January 1, 2027. Companies have accelerated ad spending while the platform stays open: Telegram ad publications in March 2026 ran 50% higher than in March 2025 as brands try to extract value from the channel before restrictions take hold.

Campaigns that push unique product advantages, exclusive promo codes, or direct purchase calls to action will lose their legal footing after January 1, 2027. Expert commentary, customer service chats, and price listings without a buy prompt look set to stay permitted, along with brand mentions seeded through influencer reviews and comparison posts. Agencies with Telegram budgets need native content formats built and tested well before the deadline, since posts that read as promotional will carry compliance risk once the ban takes hold.