How to Unblock Instagram in Russia in 2025

After labeling Meta as "extremist" in March 2022, Russian prosecutors argued in court that Instagram and Facebook were used to spread anti-Russian messages and ultimately managed to get the apps banned in the country. The social media apps lost millions of users due to privacy concerns, as Russian authorities and ISPs can see your every move on the Web.

That said, a reliable VPN provider is all you need. With one, you can unblock Instagram in Russia and ensure you're not tracked online. VPNs change your virtual location and IP address so you can unblock sites, encrypt your data, and they even help you avoid malicious websites and malware.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to unblock Instagram in Russia using a VPN. Then, we’ll recommend the best VPNs for the job, explain why a VPN is crucial in this situation, and help you choose the right one. We’ll also wrap up with answers to some frequently asked questions.

How to Unblock Instagram in Russia With a VPN

Keep in mind that very few VPNs still work in the country, so make sure to pick a VPN that works in Russia. Then, you'll need to switch to a secure VPN protocol, pick a suitable server, and then you'll unblock your access to Instagram. These are the steps you need to take:

1. Subscribe to a VPN that works in Russia reliably (we recommend Proton VPN)
2. Download the VPN app on your computer or smartphone and install it.
3. Launch the app and use your account details to log in.
   
4. Navigate to the VPN's settings panel and enable a high-end protocol, like Proton VPN's Stealth.
   
5. Connect to a server from a country where Instagram isn't blocked. That's it!

What Is the Best VPN for Accessing Instagram in Russia?

Russia is known for its firm stance against VPN services, so you need to be extra careful about which one you choose. To access Instagram and other social media from Russia, you'll want a VPN known to work in the country, featuring advanced protocols, high-end security, fast speeds, and compatibility with all your devices. Based on our hands-on tests, these are our recommendations:

1. Proton VPN - Our top-rated VPN for safely accessing Instagram in Russia, offering strong privacy and reliable performance in 2025.
2. Surfshark - A beginner-friendly VPN for Instagram in Russia, with a wide network of servers, intuitive apps, and features designed to bypass tough restrictions.
3. ExpressVPN - A premium VPN combining lightning-fast speeds with advanced security tools and strong anti-censorship capabilities.

1. Proton VPN

Proton VPN features a series of high-end technologies to unblock the Web and bypass censorship. As a result, it's one of Russia's most popular VPN providers. You can count on servers in Estonia, Latvia, or Lithuania to unblock Instagram, but most other servers work great too. Globally, this VPN offers 9,600+ servers in 117 countries.

Furthermore, Proton VPN is a speedy VPN provider. Thanks to its VPN Accelerator, this provider uses a unique way to re-route your data packets with minimal performance loss. That said, Proton VPN recommends using its Stealth protocol in Russia, which is known to work great against web blocks and censorship.

Regarding the available protocols, you can expect WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, and Stealth. Those are paired with trusty encryption ciphers, such as AES-256 and ChaCha20. Of course, you can also count on a no-logs policy, meaning that even Proton VPN won't know what you do online.

Furthermore, you get 10 simultaneous connections and applications for a wide range of platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and more. These apps have recently received a makeover, making them modern-looking and very easy to use.

You can get started for only $3.59 per month for 24 months. A 30-day money-back guarantee is included as well. Lastly, expect 24/7 live chat support and various other customer support channels.

2. Surfshark

Surfshark has always been known as a very user-friendly VPN service. That said, it's also a highly robust one. It can unblock Instagram every single time, as well as practically any other blocked website or app in Russia. You can count on servers in Estonia, Latvia, Finland, and Romania, as well as 3,200+ servers in 100 countries. That said, Surfshark recommends that its users from Russia set up a manual WireGuard connection.

You'll also be happy with this VPN's performance. It can deliver ultra-fast speeds no matter which server you pick. There's barely noticeable throttling, which puts Surfshark among the fastest VPN apps. You also get obfuscation across its entire network, which you can enable on demand. Of course, a kill switch is available across all platforms as well.

Surfshark is built upon robust protocols like WireGuard, IKEv2, and OpenVPN. It also comes with AES-256-GCM and ChaCha20 encryption ciphers, which can stop even the most persistent trackers (plus, there's a patent for an all-new type of encryption as well). There's also a no-logs policy.

This VPN supports unlimited simultaneous connections and works across a range of devices. There are apps for computers, phones, tablets, streaming devices, and more.

Right now, Surfshark is available for only $2.19 per month for 24 months. You'll get a 30-day money-back guarantee, giving you plenty of time to test-drive this VPN. Finally, let's not forget Surfshark's 24/7 live chat customer support, email support, installation guides, and similar services.

3. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN puts a lot of emphasis on the protection of sensitive data. However, it's also a great option for bypassing censorship and geo-blocks. It can unblock Instagram and Facebook in an instant, as well as other blocked websites. There's an undisclosed number of servers in 105 countries, and ExpressVPN recommends using servers in Sweden, the Netherlands (Rotterdam), the UK (Docklands), Switzerland, and Germany (Frankfurt). It also offers a dedicated troubleshooting page for users from Russia.

Expect extra-fast performance whether you plan to connect to remote or nearby servers (we recommend using the new Lightway Turbo protocol). The provider features obfuscation on all servers, meaning your VPN activity is disguised as usual HTTPS traffic. Plus, it's built-in kill switch also ensures your identity remains safe even during disconnects.

You'll have a great set of available protocols: OpenVPN, Lightway, and IKEv2. These are coupled with AES-256 and ChaCha20/Poly1305 encryption types, as well as a no-logs policy. In addition, ExpressVPN supports up to 8 simultaneous connections.

Needless to say, this VPN supports a wide range of devices, including computers, phones, tablets, streaming devices, and VPN-ready routers.

The lowest you can pay for ExpressVPN is $4.99 per month for 24 months. No matter which plan you pick, ExpressVPN will provide you with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Its customer support is also high-end, with 24/7 live chat on board, as well as email support, an active blog, installation guides, and plenty more.

Why Do You Need a VPN to Use Instagram in Russia?

The Instagram app is blocked in Russia by default. Following Instagram's algorithmic changes, Russia concluded that the social media app did nothing to prevent calls for violence against the country's soldiers following the invasion of Ukraine. Once Meta, Instagram's parent company, was labeled an extremist organization, access to the app became impossible.

That said, VPNs remain the most reliable way to unblock social media in Russia. They change your IP address to a different country, one without such glaring censorship problems. Aside from giving you access to social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, VPN encryption also allows you to hide your browsing activity from your Internet provider.

While prosecutors have said that it's not illegal for Russian citizens to unblock Instagram, you never know when the situation might change for the worse. That said, make sure to use a reliable VPN, as you'll want equally powerful privacy features and content-unblocking abilities.

We'll remind you that Proton VPN remains the best option. It gives you unrestricted access to Instagram and any other social media app. It's also perhaps the most capable VPN in terms of privacy, encryption, and securing your sensitive data.

What to Look for When Choosing a VPN for Unblocking Instagram in Russia

There are several essential features you should look out for during your research for the best Instagram VPN for Russia. Here they are, in no particular order:

• Top-of-the-line VPN protocols and encryption such as OpenVPN, WireGuard, or equivalent.
• Leak protection and a VPN kill switch to prevent IP and data leaks at all times.
• A no-logs policy that's either been independently audited or proven effective through other means. Read more about the no-logs policy of these VPNs in our best no-log VPNs guide.
• Recommended: obfuscated (or stealth) servers to hide your VPN traffic.
• Servers located around Russia to get the best possible performance while browsing Instagram.

Other useful but not completely necessary features include ad-blocking, anti-tracking, malware and phishing domain filtering, anti-malware, and "Double VPN" (for when you really want to cover your tracks).

Can You Use a Free VPN to Unblock Instagram in Russia?

Yes, you can use a free VPN to unblock Instagram in Russia, but most of them are unreliable and can expose your traffic to your Internet provider. Since Russia is quite aggressive in blocking VPNs and social media apps like Instagram, you need more than a free VPN can offer.

Keep in mind that free VPNs come with limited server networks, giving you very few options to unblock sites. Also, most are painfully slow, making it impossible to scroll through videos. You'll also encounter half-backed apps, no support for simultaneous connections, and low-end encryption.

It's a known fact that most free VPNs can leak and expose your data. Even more worryingly, some of them can be malicious, focused on propagating malware and spyware.

If you're set on using a free VPN, at least use a well-known one, such as Proton VPN, which offers a free tier. However, the free tier will limit the number of countries you can connect to, and it will restrict your speed as well. On the plus side, you'll get high-end data protection and unlimited bandwidth.

Final Thoughts

Due to the Kremlin's insistence on monopolizing the conversation around Ukraine, people can't share fun moments online, keep up with friends, or even maintain their online businesses. That said, Russia's ban on Instagram seems to be here to stay for a while. However, using a VPN, you can not only use Instagram in Russia, but also unblock other websites.

More precisely, VPNs like Proton VPN allow you to bypass the ban with state-of-the-art data encryption, obfuscation technology, super-fast servers, and a track record for quality. With this VPN, no one will know what you do online - not even your Internet provider.

Other excellent VPN alternatives exist as well, like Surfshark, which is a user-centric VPN that makes unblocking sites as easy as possible, but you'll need to set up a WireGuard connection manually. Then, there's ExpressVPN as well, which caters to privacy-conscious users due to its strong data security, and has a set of recommended servers for Russian users.

Have trouble unblocking Instagram in Russia? Is your VPN provider's website blocked? Leave us a comment, and we'll be glad to help you get back on track.