Vlad is a career serviceman. He serves on a submarine in the Far East, but in his spare time...

Vlad is a career serviceman. He serves on a submarine in the Far East, but in his spare time he helps people get around Roskomnadzor blocks and restrictions by setting up VPNs on home routers for 1,500 to 4,000 rubles.

“People simply come to me for help, and I help them. It’s not difficult for me. It’s much more useful than just sitting around playing games or doing something else. And it’s also a bit of extra money for the family budget,” the serviceman explains to Verstka.

Sometimes fellow servicemen ask Vlad to help set up a computer or router. He does not refuse.

In four years, Vlad plans to retire on a military pension, “if by that time the ‘SMO’ is over.” In that case, he believes, “the sanctions will most likely be lifted” and “nobody will need a VPN anymore.”

Against the backdrop of Roskomnadzor’s large-scale blocking, a gray market has emerged for goods and services that provide access to blocked resources. There are dozens of such listings on marketplaces. Some help for free. Others make money from it. Still others offer dubious schemes and deceive customers.

Verstka analyzed dozens of listings on marketplaces, spoke with their authors and experts on bypassing blocks. Read on the Verstka website about who helps Russians fight internet censorship and why (with VPN):

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Verstka

Agents of the free internet: who helps Russians bypass Roskomnadzor’s blocks

There are dozens of listings on marketplaces, behind which fraudulent schemes may be hiding