DeepSeek Neural Network Faces Access Issues in Russia, Regulatory Body Denies Blocking

• May 24, 2026

On the weekend of May 23 and May 24, users across Russia experienced notable difficulties accessing the AI-powered neural network service DeepSeek. Reports of these access problems were prominently recorded by monitoring platforms such as Downdetector and the Russian site «Сбой.рф».

Widespread Access Interruptions Draw User Complaints

Data from Downdetector revealed a peak in reported disruptions around 10 a.m. local time on Sunday, marking the highest concentration of user issues. Throughout the 24-hour period, approximately 23,000 complaints were submitted by users encountering difficulties connecting to the DeepSeek platform.

The majority of these reports came from several major regions including Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk, as well as Moscow and Novosibirsk oblasts. This distribution underscores the broad geographic reach of the disruption affecting a significant portion of the Russian user base relying on DeepSeek for its AI-driven capabilities.

Despite the volume and geographic concentration of reported problems, the Russian telecommunications regulator, Roskomnadzor (RKN), has publicly denied any involvement in restricting access to the neural network service. The agency stated that no official blocking measures have been imposed on DeepSeek, suggesting that the connectivity issues stem from other factors.

The origin of the disruptions remains unclear, with no immediate explanation from DeepSeek’s operators or additional details on the nature of the problem. Such interruptions could be linked to technical difficulties on the service provider’s side, infrastructure challenges, or external network conditions affecting service availability.

DeepSeek’s situation highlights ongoing challenges in maintaining continuous access to AI and neural network services, particularly in markets with complex regulatory environments and varied internet infrastructure quality. Users dependent on these platforms for research, development, or functionality in business and technology sectors are notably impacted by such service outages.

As Russia continues to balance internet governance with technological growth, incidents like DeepSeek’s accessibility issues will remain under close observation. Both authorities and service providers face increasing pressure to ensure transparency and reliability in the delivery of advanced AI tools that are becoming central to digital innovation.

Russian users report significant access problems with DeepSeek neural network, while regulator Roskomnadzor denies any intentional blocking.