kompas news as of September 25 RUEN

Safety

A few simple steps so that visiting this site and similar resources leaves fewer traces. This is not a complete manual, just a short list of what digital security specialists usually recommend.

Quick exit

  • The 'Exit' button (or the Esc key on a computer) immediately replaces this page with a neutral website.
  • Your browser history stays, though. You need to clear it separately.
  • iPhone (Safari): Settings → Apps → Safari → 'Clear History and Website Data'.
  • Android (Chrome): menu ⋮ → 'History' → 'Delete browsing data'.
  • Computer: Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Cmd+Shift+Delete on a Mac) opens history clearing in most browsers.

Private browsing

  • In an 'Incognito' or 'Private' tab the browser keeps no history or cookies once the tab is closed.
  • Private browsing does not hide your visit from your internet provider, employer or network owner — that needs other tools.

Staying in touch in 2026

  • WhatsApp, Signal and Viber are blocked in Russia, Telegram works intermittently and mobile internet is shut down in some regions. Most contacts in this directory are Telegram bots.
  • Save backup channels in advance: many organisations here list an email address, Delta Chat or a phone number, shown under 'If Telegram doesn't open'.
  • Using a VPN is not banned by law; the fines are for deliberately searching for material on the extremist list (art. 13.53 CAO). Keep two or three VPNs of different types and update them in advance.
  • The state messenger MAX has no end-to-end encryption. Don't discuss anything sensitive on it and don't use it to contact human rights groups.
  • More: the guide 'Messaging, VPNs and blocking' and the guides from First Line (firstlinehelp.info) and EFF (ssd.eff.org/ru).

Your phone before the border

  • Phones may be inspected at the Russian border. Prepare well in advance, not in the passport queue.
  • Meduza guide: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/08/29/how-to-prepare-your-mobile-phone-for-the-russian-border-meduza-s-complete-survival-guide
  • Meduza is designated 'undesirable' in Russia: open the link through a VPN and do not share it.

Web app and offline mode

  • Do not add this site to your home screen or turn on offline mode unless you need to: the icon and saved pages are visible if your phone is inspected.
  • If you have installed it, you can remove the icon and site data in your browser settings.

Spotting the official bot or channel

  • Popular projects have many clones that harvest data. Take the bot link from the organisation's official website, not from forwarded messages.
  • Example: Get Lost (Idite Lesom) has only one official bot — @iditelesom_info_bot.
  • Check the username character by character: clones differ by a single letter, underscore or digit.
  • Genuine human rights groups never ask for passwords, SMS codes or payment for advice in a chat.

Reposts, subscriptions and likes

  • Do not share material from organisations designated 'extremist' or 'undesirable': people face administrative and criminal cases for this.
  • Reading something is not the same as sharing it. The main risk comes from spreading it: reposts, forwards, comments with links.
  • Subscriptions and likes are also visible if your phone is inspected and sometimes feature in cases. Remove them before travelling to Russia.
Exit