(Reuters) – Telegram has overtaken WhatsApp to change into Russia’s hottest messaging device, the cellular operator Megafon mentioned on Monday, with Russians flocking to the service as Moscow restricts some digital providers.

WhatsApp proprietor Meta Platforms Inc is embroiled in a Russian court docket case, with prosecutors in search of to label it an “extremist organisation”, and authorities have actively promoted Telegram as they’ve banned different international platforms akin to Fb (NASDAQ:), Instagram and Twitter (NYSE:).

Russia’s army operation in Ukraine has added gas to a simmering dispute between international digital platforms and Moscow.

Megafon, considered one of Russia’s 4 principal telecoms operators, mentioned its evaluation of cellular web site visitors confirmed that Telegram’s share had jumped to 63% within the first two weeks of March from 48% within the first two weeks of February.

WhatsApp’s share dropped to 32% from 48%, Megafon mentioned.

The typical Telegram consumer consumed 101 MB of information a day, in comparison with 26 MB for WhatsApp.

Based by Russian Pavel Durov, Telegram has lengthy been a well-liked information platform in Russia, with nearly all main media, authorities entities and public figures working content material channels.

“The recognition of the service has grown towards the backdrop of restrictions on entry to different messengers and social networks,” Megafon mentioned in a press release. “The service began actively rising on Feb. 24.”

Russia despatched tens of hundreds of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 in what it referred to as a particular operation to degrade its southern neighbour’s army capabilities and root out individuals it referred to as harmful nationalists.

Ukrainian forces have mounted stiff resistance and the West has imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia in an effort to power it to withdraw its forces.