Is Facebook banned in Russia? Yes — how to access it in 2026
Facebook has been blocked in Russia since March 2022 and Meta was designated extremist. Whether you can use Facebook, what ordinary users risk, and how to access the site and app.
Quick fix. Facebook opens through a VPN. Get Surok in Telegram: 3 days free.
Roskomnadzor blocked Facebook on 4 March 2022; on 21 March 2022 a court designated Meta an extremist organisation and banned its activity in Russia (Facebook and Instagram). Prosecutors said ordinary users wouldn't be prosecuted just for using Meta products, but paying for Facebook ads is prohibited and displaying Meta symbols may be treated as extremist symbols — consult a lawyer if in doubt.
To access it: turn on a VPN, open facebook.com or the app (another country's store may be needed for updates), stick to one country, keep your recovery email and phone, and enable app-based two-factor authentication. Messenger is blocked too; calls need a VPN that carries UDP. See also Instagram not working even with a VPN.