VPNovaya
Help Russians and Belarusians Access the Truth
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, independent Russian media outlets have been silenced, forced to shut down, or driven into exile. More than 1,000 journalists have fled the country, and the Russian public has been left with little more than state-controlled propaganda. This relentless censorship is aimed at drowning out independent voices like ours — voices that offer alternative perspectives on Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and the world.
At Novaya Gazeta Europe, we have been fighting for the truth for many years. Our goal today is to help people in Russia and Belarus hear that truth — to provide them with independent, fact-checked information that counters the state narrative. If we want real change, it’s crucial that Russians are given the chance to see all sides of the story, not just Kremlin propaganda.
Russia’s media regulator blocked or deleted around 600,000 web pages in 2022 alone, and Russians now lead the world in VPN downloads. But many still lack access to these vital tools — especially free VPNs that make it possible for them to browse safely and access independent media outlets.
If you share our belief that truth should be accessible to all, we invite you to support VPNovaya.
What is VPNovaya?
VPNovaya is a project designed to provide free VPN services to people in Russia and Belarus, enabling them to access independent media, including Novaya Gazeta Europe. However, maintaining and expanding the VPNovaya network is not free . Each VPN user costs us approximately €0.50 per month to support.
We currently invest the income from banner adverts on our website into sustaining VPNovaya, but as demand grows, we need additional support.
How Can You Help?
Please consider signing up to donate a monthly amount to the VPNovaya project. Every €5 you contribute will provide free internet access to 10 people, allowing them to read and watch independent media. Monthly recurring donations are especially valuable, as they enable us to guarantee that VPNovaya will continue to operate reliably for our users.
Help those still in Russia and Belarus access the truth
Help those still in Russia and Belarus access the truth
By clicking the Support button, you agree to the processing of your personal data.
To cancel a regular donation, please write to [email protected]
If you have any questions, please check our FAQ section. For further inquiries, feel free to contact us at [email protected].
FAQ
1. What is a VPN (I haven’t used one before) ?
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) hides your IP address and encrypts your internet traffic. This ensures users’ online activity is anonymous and allows them to access websites blocked by Russia’s censorship agency, including our own.
2. How does VPNovaya work?
VPNovaya consists of small, locally managed VPN networks hosted on foreign servers, each supporting up to 250 users. Due to their smaller size, these networks are harder for Russian authorities to block compared to large VPN services like ProtonVPN or NordVPN. While occasional disruptions may occur—especially when Russia temporarily blocks VPN protocols—we work quickly to restore access so our users can continue accessing independent news.
3. How is VPNovaya different from other VPN services?
VPNovaya is free for users in Russia and Belarus. Since donating to independent media like Novaya Gazeta Europe could lead to legal repercussions in Russia, VPNovaya ensures they can access our content at no cost. While we occasionally face interruptions, VPNovaya generally offers more stability than other, larger services. Because our users in Russia cannot contribute financially, we rely on the support of our international readers to keep VPNovaya running. Your donations make it possible for us to provide this critical service.
