Last week, Russia experienced a remarkable event as even the most loyal Kremlin propagandists began to openly criticize the actions of their own government. This criticism was triggered by the decision of the censorship authority, Roskomnadzor, to slow down and partially block Telegram, a messaging application that boasts over 90 million users in the country. The crackdown on Telegram is part of President Vladimir Putin's longstanding ambition to create a 'sovereign internet' for Russia, allowing more control over information flow within the state.

Notably, prominent TV presenter Vladimir Solovjov, known as a mouthpiece for Putin, expressed his displeasure almost immediately. During a live broadcast, he lamented the dramatic drop in his follower count and acknowledged the Kremlin's failure with its domestic alternative, the Max app. Solovjov practically admitted that there is no real alternative to Telegram, which has had significant implications for communication among soldiers fighting in Ukraine and for public discourse in general, thereby highlighting the Kremlin's significant overreach in its control of the internet.

This incident raises important questions about the effectiveness of Kremlin's propaganda and censorship strategies. As anger from within its own ranks grows, the Kremlin faces a delicate balancing act between maintaining control over information and appeasing its own propaganda machine. The backlash from supporters like Solovjov not only undermines the authority of the Kremlin but also indicates potential fissures in the regime as it navigates through the increasingly complex landscape of digital communication in Russia.