Can’t access Facebook in Russia? Facebook has been banned in Russia since 2022, and Roskomnadzor continues to limit internet freedom. Currently, the only way to access Facebook in the country is with a VPN.
But not any VPN will do. We strongly recommend you avoid state-approved VPNs as they may share your data with the Russian government. Our cybersecurity experts conducted tests to identify reliable VPNs that can give you access to Facebook in Russia. Here’s how to unblock Facebook in Russia:
- Go to Surfshark’s website and set up an account.
- Download the Surfshark app on the device you use with Facebook.
- Log into your Surfshark account using the app.
- Connect to a VPN server outside of Russia.
- Log into Facebook and browse freely.
Surfshark gives you access to Facebook and any Western site blocked in Russia. This VPN uses strong encryption to hide your identity and online activity from snooping parties.
Surfshark
Continue reading the article below to learn more about how to bypass Moscow’s strict censorship and discover the best Facebook VPNs in Russia.
Are you struggling to access Facebook in Russia? You’re not alone. Facebook is banned in the Russian Federation. It’s one of many websites blocked by Russian authorities.
Russia restricted access to Facebook in March 2022. At the time, a Russian court described Facebook’s parent company, Meta, as “extremist.” According to Roskomnadzor, this was due to “discrimination against Russian media and information.” However, critics say this was only a ruse to limit citizens’ access to unbiased information.
Popular Russian social network VK is promoted as an alternative to Facebook, but it’s likely being monitored by the Russian state. Based on tests by our cybersecurity experts, the best way to unblock Facebook in Russia is to use Surfshark. We used this VPN to access Facebook and unblock other websites in Russia. It also hides your identity and makes you untraceable online.
How to Access Facebook in Russia
The guide below will walk you through changing your IP address and accessing Facebook in Russia. Once you’ve downloaded a reliable VPN, you can get an IP address with the click of a button and bypass Russia’s internet blocks.
This is how our cybersecurity experts unblocked Facebook in Russia:
- Get a VPN. Surfshark is the best Facebook VPN for Russia. We used this VPN to bypass Russia’s internet restrictions successfully and access Facebook. Many VPNs don’t work in Russia, so we encourage you to stick with our proven solution.
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- Download the Surfshark VPN app on the device you use to log into Facebook.
- Log in to your Surfshark account.
- Connect to a VPN server in a different country. We unblocked Facebook in Russia by connecting to a US VPN server. But you can also choose closer options in Europe.
- Log into Facebook and enjoy. Roskomnadzor won’t be able to track what you do online when you’re using a good VPN like Surfshark.
Surfshark is one of the few VPNs that still works in Russia. If you’re struggling to connect, there are ways around the problem. We’ll help you troubleshoot further down in this article. For now, grab Surfshark at a 86% discount and pay just $ 2.19 per month.
Why Is a VPN Needed to Access Facebook in Russia?
Facebook is one of the casualties of Russia’s efforts to limit access to unbiased information online. LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp are just a few of the social media sites that have been banned in Russia in the past few years.
In response, citizens have turned to virtual private networks (VPNs) to unblock social media in Russia. A VPN allows you to change your IP address and access blocked websites.
This isn’t just about censorship; a VPN protects your online freedom. In many countries with strict online censorship, like Russia, dissidents, journalists, and critics turn to VPNs to voice their opinions freely and without fear of being punished by the authorities.
Important!
In March 2024, we were shocked to see Russia ban VPN advertisements ahead of the country’s presidential election. The ban only applies to VPN services that are not state-approved. But, any VPN service that has been approved by the Russian government is likely to be unsafe. The Kremlin can already surveil people’s internet traffic, and citizens have been arrested for voicing anti-war opinions online.
The Russian state keeps a tight grip on ISPs (internet service providers) through Roskomnadzor, which allows it to spy on your internet activity. To avoid potential risks to your privacy and personal freedom, we strongly recommend choosing one of the VPNs we’ve tested in Russia. Download Surfshark today and access the web safely and anonymously.
The Best VPNs to Access Facebook in Russia
It’s important to choose the right VPN for Russia to protect your privacy. The situation on the ground is constantly changing, so our experts regularly conduct tests to determine the best VPNs to use.
Below, we’ve listed the best VPNs for Russia that can unblock Facebook and any other website. In our tests, we could successfully access LinkedIn, Instagram, and other blacklisted sites.
1. Surfshark: Best VPN to access Facebook in Russia
- 3200+ VPN servers worldwide for unblocking websites
- One of the cheapest services you can find, and it offers a full refund within 30 days if you can’t connect
- Unblock any website in Russia — access Facebook, Instagram, and unbiased news outlets
- Doesn’t log your data, ever — proven through annual third-party audits
- Powerful 256-bit data encryption prevents Roskomnadzor from spying on your internet traffic
- Subscribe with Bitcoin and other crypto for total anonymity
Surfshark has been our go-to VPN for Russia since the government started restricting access to websites and online services. While we can usually connect in seconds with the native app, some users have had trouble in the past. Surfshark’s customer service has put together a guide in Russian to help users troubleshoot connectivity issues. Visit the Shark China page to access the guide.
This VPN gives you the privacy you need in Russia. With 256-bit data encryption and IP cloaking, your ISP won’t be able to see the websites you visit. This blocks Roskomnadzor’s ability to track what you’re doing online. For enhanced privacy, you can subscribe with cryptocurrency and stay completely anonymous.
Surfshark is currently offering a 86% discount that brings your monthly subscription price to just $ 2.19. And you have 30 days to claim a full refund if you can’t connect or aren’t satisfied with the service.
For a more in-depth look at the security features of this VPN, take a look at our detailed Surfshark review.
2. NordVPN: Secure, no-logs VPN that works in Russia
- Fastest Facebook VPN we’ve tested — perfect for unblocking torrents and Western news sites
- Choose from 6441 servers worldwide
- Zero-logs guaranteed, with 256-bit data encryption
- Tops our best VPN for cryptocurrency ranking
- Features obfuscated servers that can further hide your activity from Russian authorities
NordVPN is a powerful solution for unblocking Facebook in Russia, particularly where speed is important. If you plan on streaming or gaming, this is your top pick. In the past, NordVPN didn’t work in Russia, but our experts have confirmed that It is working once again; you just need to connect to the web using a mobile hotspot instead of Wi-Fi.
In our tests, we chose obfuscated servers. These servers hide the fact that you’re using a VPN — highly recommended for a country that is continually cracking down on VPN usage. We could easily access Facebook and unblock Instagram, LinkedIn, and other social media platforms.
Like Surfshark, NordVPN offers robust encryption, and independent third parties have audited its zero-logs policy. NordVPN also offers useful security features, like dedicated IP addresses, that can reduce the chances you’ll be detected using a VPN. Sign up for this VPN now at 72% off and enjoy a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Head over to our in-depth NordVPN review to find out more about this VPN service and see how it fared in our speed tests.
3. CyberGhost: Access Facebook in Russia with a vast server network
- Second-largest server network — 11700+ servers worldwide
- Unblock Facebook in Russia and access other social media, news, and streaming sites
- Keeps zero data logs — proven by the same high-profile audits as Surfshark and NordVPN
- Set up an account and pay with cryptocurrency for anonymity
CyberGhost is another reliable option for accessing Facebook in Russia. It covers the usual bases, with 256-bit encryption and an audited no-logs guarantee. You can also get a dedicated IP address that’s shared with no other users, reducing your chance of being detected.
One of the key benefits of CyberGhost is its dedicated streaming servers, which performed impressively in our speed tests. We enjoyed rapid connection speeds that let us stream unbiased news and entertainment from Western countries while in Russia.
CyberGhost has the second-largest VPN server network — you can choose from 11700+ servers worldwide. This increases your chance of dodging potentially blocked servers and finding working alternatives to unblock Facebook, Instagram, and other social media or news sites. This VPN is currently available at a 83% discount and comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee.
Want to know more about CyberGhost? Read our comprehensive CyberGhost review to see what makes this one of our top-rated VPNs.
How We Chose the Best VPN for Facebook in Russia
The VPN you use must meet strict criteria — even if you’re in a country without internet restrictions. These requirements are even more important if you’re looking for the best VPN for Russia.
Since Russia is known for strong censorship, any VPN you choose must be able to guarantee your privacy, safety, and internet freedom. These are some factors we considered when choosing a VPN to use in Russia:
- No data logging: If a VPN logs your data, your private information and identity could be accessible to Russian authorities and cybercriminals. So, we only considered the best no-logs VPNs when running tests.
- Server locations: It’s important to pick a VPN with servers in countries with a history of internet freedom. Countries like Sweden, the UK, and the US are great server locations to access the web freely.
- Strong encryption and VPN protocols: We only selected VPNs that can successfully circumvent geographical restrictions and keep your information protected. This lets you view restricted content, like news websites and streaming services, without compromising your identity.
Can I Use a Free VPN to Access Facebook in Russia?
No, we strongly advise against using a free VPN for Facebook in Russia. While there are some excellent free VPN services, they’re not ideal for bypassing internet restrictions or unblocking websites in Russia.
With a small budget, free VPN services don’t have the same resources as premium VPNs. So, if you find a free VPN that’s still working in Russia, it’s quite likely sharing your data with the authorities.
Other reasons to avoid free VPNs in Russia include:
- Limited server choice: Free VPNs have very few servers, and there’s a high likelihood you won’t find one that can bypass Russia’s censorship.
- Potential tracking: Some free VPNs claim they don’t log your data but do anyway. Don’t risk your privacy in heavily restricted countries like Russia by using a free VPN.
- Data limits: Most free VPNs have small data limits, and once they run out, you’ll be cut off. This will leave your connection unprotected.
Important!
Russia continues to impose restrictions against VPN providers in a bid to stop citizens from bypassing its censorship walls. VPNOverview is monitoring the situation on the ground, and we’ll update our recommendations accordingly. We strongly advise that you avoid free VPNs and also avoid heavily advertised services at this time.
Conclusion: You Can’t Access Facebook in Russia Without a VPN
Russia’s censorship campaign has taken down the likes of Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok within the country, and these restrictions are likely to become stricter.
Currently, the only way to access Facebook and other banned sites in Russia is by using a VPN. While Roskomnadzor has been cracking down on VPNs in the country, several premium VPNs still work in Russia. Surfshark is our preferred VPN, and it can give you access to Facebook within Russia in minutes:
- Get Surfshark.
- Download and install Surfshark, and connect to a server outside of Russia.
- Access Facebook or any other blocked site freely.
We’ve published other guides on how to circumvent internet restrictions in Russia using a VPN:
- How to Access TikTok in Russia
- Censorship in Russia: Getting Around Restrictions
- Accessing WhatsApp Abroad: How to Circumvent Restrictions
Do you have questions on how to get access to Facebook in Russia? The FAQ section below might be able to point you in the right direction.
Russia made a decision to block Facebook in 2022. Restricting people’s access to the social network allows the Kremlin to control the information Russians can access. You can, however, access Facebook by using a trusted VPN that works in Russia. We recommend Surfshark — we’ve tested this VPN in Russia, and it can successfully bypass Russia’s strict internet restrictions.
Yes, using VPNs is legal in Russia, but the websites of VPN providers are blacklisted. By law, VPN providers must comply with media protocols that forbid them from helping people access blocked content.
In March 2024, Russia banned VPN services from advertising unless they’re approved by the state. But, we advise steering clear of state-approved VPN providers that probably offer zero privacy.
Surfshark is the best VPN in Russia. Even if you can’t access the provider’s download page, Surfshark has set up a page dedicated to helping people troubleshoot connectivity issues and access its service in Russia. Read our article on censorship in Russia to learn more.
