Does CyberGhost work in Russia?
As of Jul 22, 2026, CyberGhost is blocked in Russia.
- Status
- blocked
- Confidence
- medium
- Last verified
- Jul 22, 2026
- Method
- No obfuscation or stealth mode exists in the apps, so there is no workaround to offer; its protocols are exactly what TSPU DPI targets; cyberghostvpn.com confirmed blocked in-country so signup and download fail without existing circumvention
Working alternatives in Russia
No VPN is currently verified as working in Russia. We would rather say that than guess. Check back after the next weekly verification pass.
What we're seeing
OONI logged 518 confirmed blocks of cyberghostvpn.com over 82 days, and the rate is rising: from 0-3 per day in May 2026 to 6-18 per day in July. On Rostelecom, 114 recent measurements were anomalous against 36 ok; one network confirmed-blocked 153 of 154. CyberGhost ships no obfuscation mode, and its standard protocols are exactly what Russia's TSPU DPI targets, so there is no workaround to offer.
Sources for the above:
- user_report (Jul 22, 2026): OONI over 82 days: 5,328 measurements, 3,294 anomalies, 518 confirmed blocks, 1,379 ok; confirmed blocks rose from 0-3/day in May to 6-18/day in July; blocking intensifying; website not tunnel
- user_report (Jul 22, 2026): OONI July 2026 by ISP: Rostelecom AS12389 114 anomalies vs 36 ok; AS39028 153 of 154 confirmed blocked; a few smaller ASNs still ok, so reachability uneven but major networks block
- news (Jul 22, 2026): Conflicting claim, weighted near zero: affiliate page (updated Jan 2026) claims it works with no test evidence while itself conceding CyberGhost has no obfuscation and suffers downtimes when TSPU blocks are enforced
Common questions
Is using a VPN legal in Russia?
Personal use is not banned, but a law passed in July 2025 fines advertising VPNs up to 500,000 rubles and treats VPN use as an aggravating factor in other offenses. The state also blocks VPN services that refuse to censor.
Which VPNs still work in Russia?
As of July 2026, none is verified fully working. Mullvad documents a partial path with QUIC or Shadowsocks, and Proton says Stealth connects for many, though forum reports say it is targeted. Seven of the ten we track are blocked.
Can I pay for a VPN from Russia?
It is hard. Visa and Mastercard stopped working for foreign payments in 2022, and several providers limit Russian accounts. Where a provider accepts them, vouchers or cryptocurrency are the practical routes.
All VPN statuses in Russia
CyberGhost in Turkey
CyberGhost in UAE
CyberGhost in China