How to Unblock and Watch Netflix in Russia

We know that Netflix is available almost everywhere. However, if you were to watch Netflix in Russia, you’d realize the service doesn’t work. The country has had a reputation for censorship and website blocks in the past, and it appears to continue this practice in 2026.

Netflix, on the other hand, suspended its services in Russia, making the situation different. The good news is that you can still watch the streaming service with a VPN. Regardless of the reason behind the website block, a VPN can alleviate it by changing your IP address.

The trick is to change your IP address to another country and “trick” Netflix into “thinking” you’re outside of Russia. This will enable you to access a library of movies and series promptly. In this guide, we’ll explain the trick in depth and recommend some VPNs that work.

Why Is Netflix Unavailable in Russia?

Countries around the world started “demonizing” Russia after an act of aggression against Ukraine. At the start of 2022, Netflix seized its service in the country as a result. If you’re in this country, visiting the website will result in an error message that cannot be bypassed.

To clarify, people in Russia can’t watch Netflix at all. We’re not discussing geo-restricted content. The ENTIRE site is blocked, which wasn’t the case before. Even in 2026, the service had not started working in the country, exacerbating the problem.

After all, Netflix is home to thousands of movies and series frequently enjoyed in Russia and other countries.

How to Unblock and Watch Netflix in Russia?

This brings us to the subject of unblocking and watching Netflix in Russia. Users can get over this annoying geo-restriction using a Virtual Private Network. There’s another problem: most VPNs don’t work in Russia due to strict censorship.

Our experts in this country have reported that NordVPN is still working. This VPN has built-in obfuscation, which helps to circumvent firewalls by masking your VPN traffic. Essentially, it makes your connections look like “regular” non-VPN connections.

Best of all, you simply need to connect to a server, which takes just five seconds. Let’s see how to watch Netflix in Russia with NordVPN. We’ll briefly review a few more working VPNs that our team has tested.

1. Get NordVPN

Free VPNs don’t work in Russia—at least, most of them. NordVPNis, therefore, our best-rated VPN for Russia, with servers in over 118 countries and 140+ locations. Get this provider below and claim a 70%+ discount for any of the chosen 24-month plans.

Try NordVPN Risk-Free

Alternatively, you can opt for monthly or annual plans, but at a higher price. Once you’re on the site, select the plan, enter your email address, and complete the payment for the service. After that, you’ll be able to create a secure password and finish your account creation.

2. Install NordVPN on Your Device

NordVPN is compatible with all devices, so feel free to download it. You can do so directly from the site. If you’re on a PC, like we are, you can download the setup file and install it. Mobile users can go to their respective app stores and install the VPN directly.

Open the app and sign in using the email and password provided in Step 1, or sign in with Google if that’s how you created your account. When NordVPN opens, you’re one step closer to watching Netflix in Russia — pay attention to the next step!

3. Connect to a Server

NordVPN works with around 25+ Netflix catalogs. This applies to Russia or any other country. With this in mind, you’ll have to decide which catalog you want. At the time of writing this guide, NordVPN works with these libraries (and more):

• US
• UK
• Australia
• Canada
• Japan
• France
• Turkey
• Singapore
• Germany, etc…

Have you decided which one you want? If so, open the server list and connect to a corresponding server. You can use the search bar displayed above to locate the desired country. As you can see below, we used Australia.

4. Watch Netflix in Russia

Now that you have an Australian IP or any other, you can go to Netflix and enjoy the library for the selected country.

NordVPN allows for unlimited server switches, which is another plus. This means you can switch VPN locations without limit and access different Netflix libraries to find unique content. It’s quite an interesting way to watch Netflix in Russia.

By the way, if regular NordVPN servers aren’t working for you in Russia, consider switching to obfuscated servers. You can find them under the Specialty Servers section. Select one, connect to it, and you should be able to unblock Netflix in Russia without any issues.

VPNs That Work With Netflix in Russia [Top 3]

So, as said, the situation with Russia and VPNs is delicate because of censorship. We’ll tell you that even high-end premium providers refuse to work including CyberGhost. However, it’s not the end of the world, as these three options still allow you to access Netflix in Russia.

1. NordVPN

NordVPN is impressive if you want to watch Netflix in Russia. It works with around 20 Netflix libraries — more than ExpressVPN. We’ve included it in the first place because it’s slightly faster, and its monthly plans, while expensive, are a bit more flexible. However, everything else is near perfect.

NordVPN offers unlimited traffic complemented by its NordLynx protocol for impeccable performance. We love its Double VPN servers, which feature two encryption layers, ideal for those who need additional protection in Russia. Moreover, NordVPN supports Onion Over VPN.

Another thing is NordVPN’s no-logging policy. This VPN keeps zero logs of sensitive data, as divulged in several third-party audits. Additionally, the VPN also works with Amazon Prime Video, allowing users to enjoy Peacock TV abroad with minimal buffering and no long loading times.

We must mention NordVPN’s Threat Protection. This feature is available on all devices and includes malware protection, tracker prevention, and ad-blocking. NordVPN also offers 256-bit encryption with a customizable kill switch for maximum security.

This is also one of the top mobile VPNs, with mobile apps that include P2P servers. Like its rivals, NordVPN is available on all devices, including as a browser extension. It boasts over 7,700 servers in 118 countries, making it the largest VPN on this list.

To watch Netflix in Russia, connect to one of its many servers, and you’re good to go. Before that, claim its time-exclusive discount and save more than 70% on the chosen 2-year plan. Don’t worry, as a 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee covers every purchase.

Visit NordVPN

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2. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN should be your go-to option if you prefer not to use NordVPN. This VPN is almost unbeatable, offering some of the fastest speeds, unlimited bandwidth, and the ability to unblock around 15 Netflix catalogs. Due to built-in obfuscation, it’ll also work in Russia, China, Iran, and other countries.

ExpressVPN works with Hotstar, too, and you can use it to access foreign gambling sites. Apart from that, the VPN displays a high level of technical prowess. For instance, there is the Lightway Turbo protocol, developed by ExpressVPN, for enhanced speed and security.

The VPN also uses 10 Gbps RAM servers, ensuring stability and privacy. You’ll be happy that it keeps no logs, which is vital for watching Netflix in Russia, as this country is all about surveillance and censorship. Another thing to mention is IP/DNS leak protection.

Once you connect to a server, ExpressVPN will NEVER leak your IP or DNS addresses. This is backed by a kill switch, as well as Advanced Protection, which blocks ads and trackers. ExpressVPN is P2P-friendly, making it easy to download torrents in Russia.

As mentioned previously, the VPN works on all devices, which is a breath of fresh air. Above all, you’re getting eight simultaneous connections to fully protect all your computers, smartphones, tablets, routers, and whatnot. We also love ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer.

It’s easy to set up on any platform for additional streaming capabilities. ExpressVPN comes with 24/7 round-the-clock support for added convenience. All of this can be yours at a discounted price (61% off), available through our site.

Visit ExpressVPN

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3. Surfshark VPN

How to watch Netflix in Russia with Surfshark? The same way! This VPN is straightforward to set up, thanks to its support for unlimited simultaneous connections. You can now install and use it on as many devices as you like and enjoy Netflix in Russia on all of them.

Surfshark VPN is easily the best VPN provider to unblock Netflix catalogs. It unblocked around 30 of them in our tests — even those less popular. Surfshark is slower than the previous two VPNs, and it occasionally experienced issues with its automatic kill switch, although these are now mostly resolved.

The silver lining—or at least a few of them—is stability, security, and privacy. Surfshark delivers AES-256 encryption and a certified no-logging policy to keep you anonymous in Russia. Furthermore, it brings an ad blocker and MultiHop to the table.

Users love its Static IP addresses, as well as the addition of Dedicated IPs to prevent IP blacklisting and bypass CAPTCHA puzzles. Surfshark even has NoBorders, which enables obfuscation to mask your VPN traffic. That’s why it works in China and Russia.

Surfshark VPN enables you to utilize its IP Rotation feature, which periodically rotates your IP address while maintaining your VPN location. Apart from that, there are more expensive plans, such as One and One+, which include an Antivirus and a private browser that doesn’t track you.

This is the most affordable VPN for streaming Netflix in Russia in 2026. We recommend its 2-year plans, while monthly plans are pretty expensive. Surfshark is worth the money as a solid all-around VPN for streaming, gaming, torrenting, and private internet browsing.

Visit Surfshark

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Is It Legal to Use a VPN to Watch Netflix in Russia?

Russia has a love-hate relationship with VPNs, making the country a so-called grey area. This explains why many struggle to get a Russian IP. Namely, the government requested access to Russian VPN servers in 2019, which is why many providers removed their Russian servers.

However, we know for a fact that many Russians still use VPNs, and they’re not penalized. It’s worth noting that using a VPN to access government-restricted sites might be problematic. If a specific website is illegal in a country, using a VPN to access it remains unlawful.

Now, this situation is different. Russia didn’t ban Netflix — it’s the other way around. Netflix suspended its service in the country, which, in theory, means you should be able to access it legally. According to our research, Russians use a VPN for Netflix in 2026.

The most challenging aspect is accessing VPN sites, as nearly all of them are blocked in this country. This prevents you from watching Netflix in Russia from the get-go. If you can, download the VPN either before you arrive in Russia or use WiFi from popular hotels and restaurants.

Popular hotels and restaurants may attract tourists who usually aren’t affected by strict Russian censorship. People in China use the same trick to download VPNs. At the very least, NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark can be downloaded this way if you’re affected.

You can also use Tor to access this site and download the VPN to watch Netflix in Russia.

Please note that our team doesn’t encourage any actions that violate the law. Before using a VPN in Russia, familiarize yourself with the local laws and regulations and act accordingly. Don’t rely on the information in this article as legal advice.

In Summary

With Netflix suspending its services in Russia, its citizens can no longer access its rich library of amazing shows and movies. With the solution we presented, you can watch Netflix in Russia by connecting to high-speed servers of NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or Surfshark.

As long as you stick to these three, you’ll have a surefire way of unblocking Netflix in Russia. These VPNs work in Russia due to obfuscation, and with unlimited bandwidth and modern protocols, you can access up to 30 different libraries within the country.

Try NordVPN Today

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FAQ

Let’s answer a few more questions to top up this complex subject.

🆓 Will free VPNs work in Russia?

No, they won’t. They lack obfuscation and usually don’t offer advanced security features. Another issue is streaming support. Pretty much NONE of the free VPNs work with Netflix, defeating the purpose of using one for this streaming service.

We also want to emphasize the importance of privacy in Russia. Yet, many free VPNs collect and even sell your sensitive data to third parties. This is exacerbated by the lack of proper encryption and a kill switch, often complemented by frequent IP and DNS leaks.

While free providers like Proton VPN and Hide.me are decent, they’re not optimized for streaming and torrenting. Above all, they’re not equipped with the obfuscation needed to bypass many VPN blocks in Russia safely. That’s why free VPNs can’t unblock Russian TV channels, either.

📺 Which Netflix libraries are available to watch in Russia?

You can watch all the most popular ones, but this depends on the VPN you choose. All VPNs from our list can unblock Netflix US, for example. However, other libraries you can watch include the ones from:

• UK
• Australia
• Japan
• Germany
• France
• Turkey
• Italy
• Czech Republic
• Greece
• India
• Portugal
• Spain
• Canada, and many others…

❌ Netflix in Russia isn’t working with a VPN. What can I do?

You may occasionally experience issues with watching Netflix in Russia. If this happens, you shouldn’t worry too much, as Russia’s delicate firewall is quite powerful. Thankfully, you can fix the problem by applying any of these solutions:

• Use a different VPN server.
• Try using another protocol.
• Connect to Netflix using another web browser.
• Clear your browser cache/cookies.
• Update the VPN application.
• Try connecting to a server through the VPN browser extension (this often works with NordVPN).
• Reinstall the VPN.
• Enable obfuscation (NoBorders in Surfshark & Obfuscated Servers in NordVPN)
• Contact customer support for additional help.