Best VPNs for Russia

Russia’s internet has long been sliding towards authoritarianism and complete muzzling of free speech. The country’s invasion of Ukraine has only accelerated things, with dozens of international news sources, chat apps, and social media services now inaccessible in Russia. This deterioration of online freedoms makes it more important than ever to protect yourself online using one of the best VPNs for Russia.

Short for Virtual Private Network, a VPN encrypts all the traffic flowing to and from your device and routes it via an intermediary server of your choice. It hides your location from surveillance agencies and hackers, making it very difficult for third parties to pry into your online behavior.

Unfortunately, approximately 200 VPNs are already blocked in Russia. In March 2024, the government went further still — introducing legislation that banned advertising for VPNs and prevented websites from posting information about VPNs. This means that if you want to use a VPN in Russia, you’ll need to download the app before arriving in the country, and be sure to choose a provider that’s up to the job.

But don’t worry, we list the best VPNs for Russia, explain how to use them, and answer some common questions about Russia’s internet status and VPNs. Here’s a quick summary of our top picks.

Best VPNs for Russia

1. NordVPN Best all-around VPN for Russia. Huge network of blazing-fast servers able to circumvent most restricted and geo-blocked sites. Has its own obfuscation protocol. 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Russia.
2. Surfshark Best budget provider. Boasts powerful security and privacy protections. Servers in 100+ countries. Effective obfuscation and no connection limits.
3. ExpressVPN Large network of servers in countries close to Russia. Good speeds, and works with all popular streaming services. Solid security and privacy. Has its own proprietary connection protocol.
4. IPVanish Excellent speeds and strong security features. Preferred by Kodi and Fire TV Stick users for easy remote integration with app.
5. CyberGhost Beginner-friendly VPN with a large server network. Can provide a Russian IP address. Strong security and privacy. Great for streaming.
6. Hotspot Shield Good choice for popular streaming sites. Offers fast speeds and IP addresses in Russia. Uses its own connection protocol.
7. PureVPN Servers in 65+ countries, including Russia. Works to access Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, as well as social media platforms.
8. Private Internet Access Reliable provider with customisable security and a huge network of servers, many located in countries close to Russia. Allows unlimited devices.
9. ProtonVPN Highly trusted VPN packed with advanced features. Servers in 117+ countries, including virtual Russian locations. Works with Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, and Facebook in Russia.

How we selected the top VPNs for Russia

When you’re dealing with a country with strict internet censorship, such as Russia, you need to make sure you’re using a quality provider.

Our recommendations are based on the following areas of importance:

• Speed: Slow VPNs can significantly reduce your connection speed, causing everything to take much longer online. To identify the fastest providers, we conducted multiple speed tests throughout the day while connected to their US servers.
• Functionality: To improve your online experience, we primarily looked for VPNs with effective obfuscation, preferably via their own connection protocols, as Russian authorities have the ability to block OpenVPN and WireGuard when it’s deemed necessary, and servers in lots of countries.
• Security and privacy: To ensure that you can browse in safety while in Russia, we only recommend VPNs that scored highly against 16 security and privacy criteria. You’ll need a provider that can obfuscate your traffic to avoid detection via Deep Packet Inspection (DPI). Ideally, providers should also have their own connection protocols,
• Ease of use: To get you access to the free internet more quickly, we sought out providers with the most user-friendly services. We did this by evaluating each VPN against 10 ease-of-use metrics.
• Streaming: Although many VPNs claim to be good for streaming, relatively few actually are — particularly when dealing with stubborn platforms such as Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. In all, we evaluated providers against nine streaming-related metrics.

This is just an overview, but you can learn more about how we test and rank the VPNs we recommend in the methodology section later in the article.

Best VPNs for Russia: at a glance

We’ve compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for Russia.

The best VPNs for Russia

At Comparitech, we take pride in providing you with the most helpful and accurate information possible. To do this, we use every VPN personally, subject them to rigorous real-world testing, and produce the following reviews based on those first-hand experiences.

Here’s our list of the best VPNs to keep you safe online while in Russia:

1. NordVPN

Apr 2025 Works in RussiaTested Apr 2025

NordVPN is our top choice for a Russia VPN. This is a mature VPN provider, having been in the business for over a decade. There are a bunch of powerful features packed into an intuitive app, including obfuscated servers designed to beat government censorship.

The provider also has its own obfuscation protocol — NordWhisper — that’s ideal for use in Russia. Alternatively, users can opt for NordLynx, which is a little faster as it doesn’t obfuscate traffic.

NordVPN abides by a rigorous no-logs policy, which means it retains absolutely no information about user sessions, traffic, or timestamps. This policy has served to be a boon for people who value privacy.

There have been at least two instances where NordVPN was approached by government agencies demanding that the company hand over user data. But there simply wasn’t any incriminatory information on its servers. Authorities even confiscated physical servers once, but couldn’t glean any information from them. Furthermore, the company is incorporated in Panama, which means it’s not subject to any mandatory data retention laws.

NordVPN operates one of the larger server networks we’ve seen, with over 7,300 servers in 118+ countries, including several of Russia’s neighboring countries. It works with many online streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer.

Better still, it’s fast enough for streaming in 4K — even on multiple devices simultaneously. In our tests, the provider achieved an average download speed of 205.76 Mbps, making it the fastest provider we tested.

Encryption standards are tight. All traffic is secured via the 256-bit AES protocol by default and uses 2,048-bit SSL keys. DNS leak protection is enabled. Your privacy and anonymity are pretty much assured.

There’s support for Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android. You can install it on select routers via manual configuration.

BEST VPN FOR RUSSIA:NordVPN is our top choice. It boasts incredible speeds, offers solid security and privacy, and works reliably in Russia. Use up to 10 devices at once with great connection speeds. It’s risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Here’s our in-depth review of NordVPN here, or check out our video review below.

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2. Surfshark

Works in RussiaTested Apr 2025

Surfshark is a budget-friendly provider that doesn’t compromise on service. It has a network of more than 3,200 servers. This no longer includes Russian VPN servers since Surfshark removed them from the country following the invasion of Ukraine. However, you will find servers in neighboring countries and 100+ others worldwide.

Surfshark’s NoBorders feature allows you to bypass strict country-wide blocking — such as that found in Russia and China.

Surfshark has exceptional unblocking ability, so you shouldn’t have any issues when torrenting or trying to safely browse the internet. In our tests, we successfully used the service with Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video.

This service doesn’t limit the number of devices you can connect simultaneously, so it’s perfect for families or anyone looking to secure their whole household.

As if that wasn’t enough, Surfshark also comes packed with security features. These include a kill switch, protection against WebRTC, DNS, and IPv6 leaks, automatic ad-blocking and malware scanning, and 256-bit encryption.

Surfshark doesn’t log any personally identifiable info, but you can pay in cryptocurrency for additional privacy. You can reach customer support over live chat or email 24/7.

Tested speeds were excellent. As well as being fast, they were also consistent, with a difference of only 6.45 Mbps between the slowest and fastest results.

Surfshark offers apps for macOS, Android, Windows, iOS, and Linux. It also works with select wireless routers, although you’ll have to configure it manually.

BEST BUDGET OPTION:Surfshark is ideal for anyone looking to browse safely in Russia. It’s security-conscious, capable of securely accessing plenty of services, and has no connection limit. What’s more, this VPN keeps no logs and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Surfshark here, or check out the video review below.

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3. ExpressVPN

Works in RussiaTested Apr 2025

ExpressVPN offers a large network of over 3,000 servers spread across 105+ countries, including plenty of Russia-adjacent locations. Foreign expatriates living in Russia and local citizens traveling abroad shouldn’t face any problems in acquiring a speedy and stable connection. Subscribers also have an option of connecting to a ‘smart location’, which will select the best server for them based on their current location.

ExpressVPN has always-on obfuscation that helps it work reliably in tricky countries such as Russia and China. It also has its own connection protocol — Lightway — that will make connections possible in Russia if OpenVPN and WireGuard are blocked. The provider uses 256-bit AES-CBC with the utilization of both HMAC authentication and perfect forward secrecy.

An internet kill switch is included with all packages. The company refers to this as a ‘network lock’ – with the feature temporarily halting all web traffic if the connection drops. ExpressVPN doesn’t keep any logs that could identify users.

ExpressVPN works well with platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+. It also has a MediaStreamer service that can be used to help VPN-incompatible devices access geo-restricted services.

Speed-wise, the provider was comfortably quick enough for UHD streaming on multiple devices. While connected to its US servers, we achieved download speeds averaging 132.49 Mbps. This is more than fast enough for day-to-day use and had less than 3 Mbps of variance across the day, so you can be sure of the best speeds even during peak times. 

There are apps for Android and iOS. It’s also possible to use a desktop client for Linux, Windows, and macOS. The VPN can be configured with some routers.

SECURE VPN:ExpressVPN is a strong choice. Optimized for high-speed connections. Works well with Netflix and other streaming sites. Great on privacy and security. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our review of ExpressVPN.

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4. IPVanish

Works in RussiaTested Apr 2025

IPVanish emphasizes speed, security, and privacy. It’s a recommended option for users looking to download torrents and maintain the highest privacy settings.

Users in Russia will be happy to know that IPVanish declines to store any user information. This includes details like session history, choice of servers, and bandwidth. IPVanish can also help Russian users disguise VPN traffic as regular web traffic using the Scramble function.

Encryption parameters are unflinching. IPVanish leverages 256-bit encryption on the WireGuard protocol by default, with perfect forward secrecy. The latter feature means that even if hackers break into your account, which is a far-fetched scenario to begin with, it’ll still be impossible for them to decrypt past session data. An internet kill switch is included with all packages, ensuring you never accidentally browse the web unprotected.

The service offers over 2,400 servers spread across around 100+ countries. At the moment, there isn’t an option for Russia, but there are plentiful servers in former Soviet republics such as Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Latvia, Estonia, and Bulgaria.

In our tests, the provider’s speeds were consistently quick. Overall, it averaged 180.83 Mbps, which is fast enough for everything from high-resolution streaming to gaming. Again, this provider showed fantastic consistency across different times of day.

IPVanish works reliably with a range of streaming services and permits torrenting throughout its network. Many users find it an excellent option for Kodi because it allows them to download the Android APK directly to their device. The interface is also remote control-friendly for Kodi devices that lack a keyboard and mouse.

There are apps for both iOS and Android, as well as a desktop client for Windows and macOS. The new Advanced tier is very reasonably priced and comes with access to a secure browser and a huge 1 TB of cloud storage.

UNLIMITED CONNECTIONS:IPVanish works with any number of devices simultaneously. Fast connections, lightweight, easy-to-use apps, and good multi-platform support. Reliable in Russia. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our review of IPVanish.

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5. CyberGhost

Works in RussiaTested Apr 2025

CyberGhost has a vast server network of over 10,000 in 100+ countries worldwide. Almost 60 of these are virtually located in Russia, which means they can give you a Russian IP address without CyberGhost having to comply with Russia’s data retention laws.

Servers are available for specific tasks — such as gaming, streaming, or torrenting. We particularly like the streaming servers, which list the platforms that they work best with.

The company has an internal policy of not storing any user logs or data. It’s also headquartered in Romania — so it’s not forced by law to store data in the first place. Encryption standards are firm. The company avails 256-bit encryption on the WireGuard protocol by default, alongside automatic tracker blocking and leak protection. There’s also an internet kill switch included.

We tested CyberGhost’s speeds while connected to its servers in the US. The results were great, as you can see from the chart below.

Overall, the provider averaged 148.07 Mbps, which is more than fast enough for streaming, gaming, or torrenting.

Apps are available for both Android and iOS, as well as desktop support for Windows, Linux, and macOS.

RUSSIAN VPN SERVERS:CyberGhost has a simple set up. Works well in Russia. Good option if you are looking for a fast, reliable connection and an easy-to-use interface. 45-day money-back guarantee.

Here’s our full review of CyberGhost.

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6. Hotspot Shield

Works in RussiaTested Apr 2025

Hotspot Shield has its own connection protocol — dubbed “Hydra” — that effectively obfuscates traffic for users in Russia.

The provider has virtual server locations in Russia and servers in neighboring countries, too. In some countries — such as the UK and US — dedicated streaming servers are available. We used them to securely access popular streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.

Speeds are decent, though there was a fair amount of variation in our tests (46.28 Mbps, to be precise). The overall average was 103.15 Mbps, which is more than ample for everything from streaming to torrenting.

This provider offers excellent security features, including strong encryption, leak protection, a desktop kill switch, and automatic wi-fi protection (in the mobile apps). Hotspot Shield uses shared IP addresses and imposes no bandwidth limit. It only logs encrypted IP addresses during a VPN session but deletes them immediately afterward, so they can never be viewed by third parties.

With a generous 45-day money-back guarantee, you can always test the service out to see if it’s a good fit. Apps are available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.

FAST SPEEDS: Hotspot Shield is ideal for streaming. Its proprietary protocol and excellent unblocking abilities make it a great option for browsing safely in Russia. It even comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Hotspot Shield.

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7. PureVPN

works in russiaTested Apr 2025

PureVPN has a 31-day money-back guarantee and an allowance of 10 devices which means you can try it on all of your devices risk-free.

The VPN has servers in over 65 countries, including Russia, which means you can use it to access region-locked streaming services like Okko and IVI while outside of Russia. Its always-on obfuscation means that it also works to bypass blocks on social media sites like Facebook and to access any news content blocked by the Russian government.

In our tests, PureVPN averaged 97.75 Mbps. While this isn’t the fastest result, it’s still comfortably quick enough for streaming, gaming, and making private video calls.

PureVPN works with a range of streaming platforms and even has a dedicated list of servers that provide shortcuts to some of the most popular, including Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

In terms of security, PureVPN offers robust AES encryption, a strict no-logging policy, a kill switch, leak prevention, and obfuscation features. These features will stop your ISP, local networks, and government agencies from monitoring you online. It also means you can bypass blocks at work to stream or use VK without being tracked.

Live chat support could be faster, but considering the cost, it is impressive that it has a live chat at all. Overall, a hugely impressive and low-cost option.

CHEAP VPN FOR RUSSIA:PureVPN starts at just $1.96 per month. It is fast, has servers in 65+ countries, including Russia, and has all the privacy features you need to prevent ISPs and government agencies in Russia from tracking you. Works to access international platforms like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and YouTube. Also works to use Facebook Twitter, and Instagram. 31-day money-back guarantee.

Find out more in our PureVPN review.

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8. Private Internet Access

works in RussiaTested Apr 2025

Private Internet Access is a popular VPN that has long been a favorite with users who are focused on security and privacy. The VPN has servers in over 91 countries, including several neighboring Russia: Ukraine, Finland, and Alaska. In fact, PIA has over 10,000 servers, which effectively removes congestion issues.

Streaming-optimized servers are available in several countries, including the US, Canada, Finland, and Japan. These are great for accessing geo-restricted content from the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

Speeds were a little variable in our tests, ranging from a low of 56.32 Mbps to a high of 104.60 Mbps. In either case, the provider is still fast enough for streaming UHD content on at least two devices simultaneously.

The VPN might be based in the US, but it has a no-logs policy that has been proven in court on numerous occasions. It routes your internet traffic through a 256-bit AES-encrypted tunnel. You’ll also benefit from features including a kill switch, leak protection, and PIA’s very strict no-logs policy.

Private Internet Access allows unlimited simultaneous connections. The apps are user-friendly, and you have 24/7 live chat and email support should you need it.

Apps are available for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, or Amazon Fire TV. Note that Chrome and Firefox browser extensions are also available, although use with routers requires manual setup.

VAST SERVER NETWORK:Private Internet Access has a wide range of servers in locations close to Russia. Strong security and a proven no-logs policy. Apps for all platforms and browser extensions. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Private Internet Access.

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9. ProtonVPN

works in russiaTested Apr 2025

ProtonVPN is an impressive option for Russians looking for a highly reputable and reliable VPN. It’s based in privacy-friendly Switzerland, and it has a rock-solid no-logging policy that has been audited, along with full audits of its apps and network.

The VPN has apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android that include obfuscation, multi-hop connections, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch. These features make ProtonVPN a superb option for visitors to Russia or Russian citizens concerned about government surveillance and internet freedom.

ProtonVPN’s robust 256-bit AES encryption is ideal for securely accessing news, web services, social media sites, or any other website blocked by the Kremlin. It even has virtually located servers in Moscow, so you can access Russian streams from abroad. In all, the provider has more than 12,000 servers in an impressive 117 countries.

The provider works seamlessly to stream Netflix US, Hulu, HBO Max, CNN, ESPN, BBC iPlayer, and many other platforms that are usually unavailable in Russia.

Speeds were decent while we were connected to the provider’s US servers. Overall, ProtonVPN averaged 97.18 Mbps, which is quick enough for most online activities. 

If you want to torrent in Russia, you can protect yourself against hackers and download without issues using ProtonVPN’s split tunneling and port forwarding features. The only drawback is that ProtonVPN is a touch expensive, so unless you need all its advanced features, you may prefer one of our other recommendations. You can test it using its 30-day money-back guarantee.

FULLY FEATURED:ProtonVPN has apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux that come packed with advanced features. It is a highly trusted VPN based in Switzerland, a country with strong privacy laws. Servers are available in over 117+ countries, including Russia. Works to watch Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, and access Facebook in Russia. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Find out more in our ProtonVPN review.

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Finding the best VPNs for Russia: our methodology

There are many VPNs available on the market, but they do not all have Russian VPN servers – or the privacy features you require to use a VPN without concerns about getting in trouble with the law. 

To find you the best options, we tested VPNs in all of the following key areas:

Speed

Slow VPNs can make your online life miserable. To make sure you get a provider that’s fast enough, we speed-tested each VPN multiple times over the course of a day. We used providers’ US servers as these are generally the most popular.

We rate-limited our connection speed to 250 Mbps (as this is the average home broadband speed in the US), and took measurements using the desktop version of the Ookla speed-testing app.

Once the results were in, we averaged them for each provider and then converted them to a normalized score out of 10.

NordVPN was the clear winner. Its average speed was more than 19 Mbps faster than the next highest-scoring VPN, which was Surfshark. IPVanish also did well, with a score of 8.3 and speeds more than 49 Mbps faster than the combined average speed of the other tested providers.

Functionality

We started by scoring VPNs that had obfuscation effective enough to evade DPI and other detection methods. If this were incorporated as part of a proprietary connection protocol, then all the better. We then scored providers on the number of countries they supported, the number of simultaneous device connections they allowed, and whether they had features like split tunneling.

These scores were summed, averaged, and converted to an overall score out of 10 for each VPN.

As you can see from the chart, NordVPN’s score of 9.6 was highest. It has not one, but two of its own connection protocols — one of which is specifically designed to obfuscate traffic. It also has servers in more countries than any other provider. Hotspot Shield and ExpressVPN are solid alternatives.

Security and privacy

We only ever recommend VPNs that provide secure protocols with strong AES-256 encryption. For this article, we wanted providers that went the extra distance and performed strongly against the other metrics shown below. 

We scored each metric based on its relative importance, and then summed the scores to generate an overall score out of 10 for comparison.

The first thing to note is that all the providers achieved relatively high scores, indicating their ability to protect your connection. However, the best overall were NordVPN and Surfshark. Both providers use RAM-only servers in their networks and have audited no-logs policies.

Ease of use

We want to make accessing the wider internet as painless as possible, which is why we looked for VPN services with easy-to-use apps and strong customer support. Ideally, they also met the other test criteria, too. You can see how they compared in the table below.

Each of the above metrics was given a score. These scores were summed for each provider and then converted to an overall score out of 10. This makes it easier to perform a direct comparison.

NordVPN and PIA each scored an impressive 9.6. Both providers combine an easy sign-up process with task-specific servers and user-friendly apps. IPVanish and ExpressVPN are both good alternatives if you’re new to VPNs.

Streaming

Not all VPNs have servers that work to access popular international services. We tested our VPNs for Russia to ensure that they can access multiple Netflix regions, iPlayer, Hulu, and apps and content that the government has censored, including apps like Telegram. As you can see from the table below, we also looked for the presence of pro-streaming features such as smart DNS.

As before, each of the above metrics was scored. Those scores were summed for each provider and converted to an overall score out of 10.

First place was split between three providers: NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN. All three work with pretty much every streaming service and also come with smart DNS.

How to use a VPN in Russia

In this section, we’ll take you through exactly how to set up your VPN. Follow the steps outlined here, and you’ll be browsing safely in no time.

Here’s how to use a VPN in Russia:

1. Browse through our recommended list of VPN services and decide on a plan that works for you. We particularly recommend NordVPN.
2. Register and pay for the service.
3. Once that’s done, download the companion apps (for your phone) or software (for PC or macOS)
4. Clear your cookies and cache in all web browsers (Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer, Opera, UCWeb) to remove old location identifier.s
5. Restart your device
6. Open the VPN companion software and log in
7. Select a server in the location of your choice. For example, in the US to gain a US IP address or in Russia to gain a Russian IP.
8. Allow a few seconds for the connection to be established. Once that’s done, there should be a green notification icon in the taskbar or on the top of your smartphone screen.
9. Browse the web like you normally would. You’ll notice that host websites will assume your location is in the country you’re currently connected to, and a bunch of previously unavailable content will now be accessible.

The future of internet freedom in Russia

Internet advocacy body Freedom House says the digital landscape of Russia is “not free”, pointing to a series of new legislative amendments known as ‘Yarovaya’s Law’ which undermines the security of encrypted communications and increases government access to user data.

“Inciting” or “justifying” terrorism online is now punishable with a maximum sentence of a 7-year jail term, with the Russian administration using vague and broad language in the bill to target social media users.

The monitoring agency puts the finger of blame on Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying that the clampdown on online freedom is a direct attempt to consolidate his authority. Content critical of the government’s actions in Crimea and involvement in the Ukrainian conflict is constantly filtered, with independent news outlets facing legal and economic pressures from the Kremlin.

If the last few years are any yardstick, it’s unlikely that the Russian internet landscape will be headed for a greater degree of freedom anytime soon. Authorities have continued to use new legislation to restrict access to content related to radical Islam, conflict with Ukraine, or any form of organized political opposition.

Human Rights Watch explains that Russian intervention on the web has been a major policy of the state since 2012 after state authorities realized the need to prevent the kind of mass uprising witnessed during 2011-12. Previously the internet had been viewed as some sort of benign space without the effect to mold public opinion, and ministries had largely focused their efforts on curtailing content on television, print, and radio.

The internet is now viewed as the only medium where there was a significant degree of opposition to the ruling party’s policies and one that needs to be brought under control. The situation now is so bad that ordinary Russian citizens are unaware of what constitutes free speech and what doesn’t. Arbitrary definitions of laws are used to silence the truth while state-run media outlets continue to spew out biased reporting, particularly when it comes to regional conflicts.

See also: Russia cyber profile

Using a VPN in Russia: FAQs