🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 152 (from laksa040)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa152.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_(service)\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_(service)\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_(service)","crawl_time":1775966522,"first_indexed_time":1543698910,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"org,wikipedia!en,\/wiki\/VK_(service) s443","src_root_hash":"17790707453426894952","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"VK (service) - Wikipedia","meta_descriptions":[],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"VK\nScreenshot\nType of site\nSocial networking service\nAvailable in\n86 languages\nFounded\n10 October 2006\n; 19 years ago\nin\nSaint Petersburg\n, Russia\nArea served\nWorldwide; the majority of its users are in the former\nUSSR\nor in the\nCIS\nCreated by\nPavel Durov\n,\nNikolai Durov\nCEO\nVladimir Kiriyenko\nRevenue\n42.751 \n₽\nbillion (2016)\n[\n1\n]\nParent\nVK\nURL\nvk\n.com\nRegistration\nRequired\nLaunched\n10 October 2006\n; 19 years ago\nCurrent status\nActive\nVK\n(short for its original name\nVKontakte\n;\nRussian\n:\nВКонтакте\n,\nlit.\n \n'\nInContact\n'\n) is a Russian online\nsocial media\nand\nsocial networking service\nbased in\nSaint Petersburg\n. VK is available in multiple languages but it is predominantly used by\nRussian speakers\n. VK users can message each other publicly or privately, edit messages,\n[\n2\n]\ncreate\ngroups\n, public pages, and events; share and tag images, audio, and\nvideo\n; and play\nbrowser-based games\n.\n[\n3\n]\nAs of August 2018\n, VK had at least 500 million accounts.\n[\n4\n]\nAs of November 2022, it was the sixth most popular website in Russia.\n[\n5\n]\nThe network was also popular in\nUkraine\nuntil it was banned by the\nSupreme Council\nin 2017.\n[\n6\n]\nAccording to\nSemrush\n, in 2024, VK was the 30th\nmost visited website in the world\n;\n[\n7\n]\nas\nYouTube\nis\nsubject to blocking in Russia\n,\n[\n8\n]\nVK Video overtook\nGoogle\n's top position in monthly web traffic for the first time in December 2024,\n[\n9\n]\nas part of the major substitution to domestic business.\n[\n10\n]\n[\n11\n]\nNumber of Registered users (millions) on VKontakte between 2006 and 2012\nPavel Durov\n, the founder of VKontakte, on his 26th birthday, 10 October 2010\nVKontakte was conceived in 2006 when\nPavel Durov\n, creator of the popular student forum\nspbgu.ru\n, met his former classmate\nVyacheslav Mirilashvili\nin\nSt. Petersburg\nafter graduating from the Faculty of Philology at\nSt Petersburg State University\n. Vyacheslav showed Durov the increasingly popular\nFacebook\n, after which the friends decided to create a new Russian social network.\nLev Leviev\n, an Israeli classmate of Vyacheslav Mirilashivili, became the third co-founder. Vyacheslav Mirilashvili borrowed the money from his billionaire\nfather\nand became the largest shareholder. Lev Leviev took over operational management, and Durov became CEO. Pavel Durov convinced his older brother\nNikolai\n, a multiple winner of international math and programming competitions, to develop the site.\n[\n12\n]\n[\n13\n]\nDurov launched VKontakte for beta testing in September 2006. The following month, the domain name\nVkontakte.ru\nwas registered.\n[\n14\n]\nThe new project was incorporated on 19 January 2007 as a Russian private limited company. In February 2007 the site reached a user base of over 100,000 and was recognized as the second largest company in Russia's nascent social network market. In the same month, the site was subjected to a severe\nDDoS\nattack, which briefly put it offline. The user base reached 1 million in July 2007, and 10 million in April 2008. In December 2008 VK overtook rival\nOdnoklassniki\nas Russia's most popular social networking service.\n[\n15\n]\nVK logo before 2015\nSimilar to many social networks, the platform's fundamental features revolve around private messaging, sharing photos, posting status updates, and exchanging links with friends. VK also provides tools for administering online communities and managing celebrity pages. The site allows its users to upload, search and stream media content, such as videos and music. VK features an advanced search engine, that allows complex queries for finding friends, as well as a real-time news search. VK updated its features and design in April 2016.\n[\n16\n]\nMessaging\n. VK Private Messages can be exchanged between groups of 2 to 500 people. An email address can also be specified as the recipient. Each message may contain up to 10 attachments: Photos, Videos, Audio Files, Maps (an embedded map with a manually placed marker), and Documents.\n[\n17\n]\nNews\n. VK users can post on their profile walls, each post may contain up to 10 attachments – media files, maps, and documents (see above). User mentions and hashtags are supported. In the case of multiple photo attachments, the previews are automatically scaled and arranged in a magazine-style layout. The news feed can be switched between\nall news\n(default) and\nmost interesting\nmodes. The site features a news-recommendation engine, global real-time search, and individual search for posts and comments on specific users' walls.\nCommunities\n. VK features three types of communities.\nGroups\nare better suited for decentralized communities (discussion boards, wiki-style articles, editable by all members, etc.).\nPublic pages\nis a news feed-orientated broadcasting tool for celebrities and businesses. The two types are largely interchangeable, the main difference being in the default settings. The third type of community is called\nEvents\n, which are used for appropriately organizing concerts and events in an appropriate way.\n[\n18\n]\nLike button on VK (Russian version)\nLike buttons\n. VK like buttons for posts, comments, media, and external sites operate differently from Facebook. Liked content doesn't get automatically pushed to the user's wall, but is saved in the private Favorites section instead. The user has to press a second 'share with friends' button to share an item on their wall or send it via private message to a friend.\nPrivacy\n. Users can control the availability of their content within the network and on the Internet. Blanket and granular privacy settings are available for pages and individual content.\nSynchronization  with other social networks\n. Any news published on the VK wall will appear on Facebook or\nTwitter\n. Certain news may not be published by clicking on the logo next to the \"Send\" button. Editing a post in VK does not change the post in Facebook or Twitter and vice versa. However, removing the news in VK will remove it from other social networks.\nSMS service\n. Russian users can receive and reply to a private message or leave a comment for community news using SMS.\nMusic.\nUsers have access to the audio files uploaded by other users. In addition, users can upload the audio files themselves, create playlists and share audios with others by attaching to messages and wall posts. The uploaded audio files cannot violate copyright laws.\n[\n19\n]\nAs of May 2017, according to\nAlexa Internet\nranking, VK is one of the most visited websites in some Eurasian countries. It is:\n4th most visited in Russia;\n[\n20\n]\n3rd most visited in\nBelarus\n;\n[\n21\n]\n6th most visited in\nKazakhstan\n;\n[\n22\n]\n8th most visited in\nKyrgyzstan\n[\n23\n]\nand\nMoldova\n;\n[\n24\n]\n12th most visited in\nLatvia\n.\n[\n25\n]\nIt was the fourth most viewed site in Ukraine until, in May 2017, the Ukrainian government banned the use of VK in Ukraine.\n[\n26\n]\nAccording to a study for May 2018 conducted by\nFactum Group Ukraine\nVK remained the fourth most viewed site in Ukraine, but\nFacebook\nwas twice as much visited.\n[\n27\n]\nFor 2019, VK appeared as the most visited social network in Ukraine according to Alexa.\n[\n28\n]\nAccording to the\nInternet Association of Ukraine\nthe share of Ukrainian Internet users who visit VK daily had fallen from 54% to 10% from September 2016 to September 2019.\n[\n29\n]\nThey also claimed in November 2019 that Facebook was the most popular social network.\n[\n29\n]\nVK was expected to gain most of the users lost by\nFacebook\nand\nInstagram\nafter they were blocked in Russia in 2022, according to a Calltouch poll.\n[\n30\n]\nThe headquarters of VK on the\nNevsky Avenue\nin\nSaint Petersburg\n(\nSinger House\n)\nInitially, founder and CEO\nPavel Durov\nowned 20% of shares (although he had majority voting power through proxy votes), and a trio of Russian-Israeli investors\nYitzchak Mirilashvili\n, his father\nMikhael Mirilashvili\n, and\nLev Leviev\n[\n31\n]\nowned 60%, 10%, and 10% respectively.\n[\n32\n]\nIn 2007, Digital Sky Technologies, an investment company managed by\nYuri Milner\n, acquired a total of 24.99% of the shares from shareholders, investing $16.3 million.\n[\n13\n]\nIn preparation for the\nIPO\nin September 2010, DST separated international and Russian assets: the former formed the\nDST Global\nfund, while the latter, including VKontakte and rival social network\nOdnoklassniki\n, were merged into\nMail.ru Group\n. Mail.ru Group used part of the money to acquire 7.5% of the social network for $112.5 million at a valuation of the entire project of 1.5 billion dollars. After exercising a 7.5% option in July 2011 for $111.7 million, Mail.ru Group accumulated a 39.99% stake in VKontakte.\n[\n33\n]\n[\n34\n]\n[\n35\n]\nThe head of Mail.ru Group,\nDmitry Grishin\n, voiced the company's intention to gain 100% control over VKontakte. MRG was discussing with shareholders to buy out shares from the valuation of the entire company in $2-3 billion. In the summer of 2011, Mirilashvili and Leviev were ready to accept in payment owned by Mail.ru Group shares of Facebook,\nGroupon\n, and\nZynga\n, but the deal failed due to Durov's unwillingness to sell a stake on MRG terms. Later, the co-founders considered VKontakte's IPO as an alternative. In March 2012, Durov \"accidentally\" became plugged into the negotiations where Mirilashvili and Leviev discussed selling their stakes directly to Mail.ru Group's main investor,\nAlisher Usmanov\n. On the same day, Durov deleted the pages of the first co-investors, stopped contacting them, and soon announced that VKontakte would postpone its IPO indefinitely.\n[\n33\n]\n[\n36\n]\nOn 29 May 2012, Mail.ru Group announced its decision to yield control of the company to Durov by offering him the voting rights on its shares. Combined with Durov's personal 12% stake, this gave him 52% of the votes.\n[\n37\n]\n[\n38\n]\nIn April 2013, the\nMirilashvili family\nsold its 40% share in VK to United Capital Partners for $1.12 billion,\n[\n39\n]\n[\n40\n]\nwhile\nLev Leviev\nsold his 8% share in the same deal, giving United Capital Partners 48% ownership. In January 2014, VK's founder Pavel Durov sold his 12% stake in the company to\nIvan Tavrin\n, the CEO of\nMegaFon\n, which is controlled by\nAlisher Usmanov\n. Following the deal, Usmanov and his allies controlled around 52% of the company.\n[\n41\n]\nShortly thereafter, the CEO of Megafon, sold his 12% stake to Mail.ru, thus allowing Mail.ru to consolidate its controlling stake of 52% in VK.\n[\n42\n]\nOn 1 April 2014, Durov submitted his resignation to the board; at first, due to the fact the company confirmed he had resigned, it was believed to be related to the\nRusso-Ukrainian War\nwhich began in the previous February.\n[\n43\n]\nHowever, Durov himself claimed it was an April Fool's Joke on 3 April 2014.\n[\n44\n]\n[\n45\n]\nOn 21 April 2014, Durov was dismissed as CEO, claiming he failed to withdraw his letter of resignation a month earlier.\n[\n46\n]\n[\n47\n]\nDurov then claimed the company had been effectively taken over by\nVladimir Putin\n's political faction,\n[\n46\n]\n[\n48\n]\nsuggesting his dismissal was the result of both his refusal to hand over personal details of users to federal law enforcement and his refusal to hand over the personal details of people who were members of a VKontakte group dedicated to the\nEuromaidan\nprotest movement.\n[\n46\n]\n[\n48\n]\nDurov then left Russia and stated that he had \"no plans to go back\"\n[\n48\n]\nand that \"the country is incompatible with Internet business at the moment\".\n[\n47\n]\nOn 16 September 2014, the\nMail.ru\ngroup bought the remaining 48% stake of VK from\nUnited Capital Partners\n(UCP)\n[\n49\n]\nfor $1.5 billion,\n[\n49\n]\nthus becoming the sole proprietor of the social network.\n[\n50\n]\nIn December 2021, Russian state-owned bank\nGazprombank\nand insurance company\nSogaz\nbought out 57.3% of VK shares, thus becoming the holders of the company's\ncontrolling interest\n.\n[\n51\n]\n[\n52\n]\nIn 2008, the TV channel\nRussia-1\nand its owner\nVGTRK\nsued VK over unlicensed uploads of two of its films by VK users. In 2010, this dispute was settled by the\nRussian High Arbitration Court\nin favour of the social network. The court ruled that VK is not responsible for its users’ copyright violations, taking into account that both parties agreed with the technical possibility to identify the user who posted illegal content and who, consequently, must incur the liability.\n[\n53\n]\nAnother ruling early in 2012 went partially in favor of\nGala Records (now Warner Music Russia)\n, a recording studio, when the same court ordered VK to pay $7000 for not being active enough in regard to copyrighted materials.\n[\n54\n]\nEfforts against copyright infringement\n[\nedit\n]\nVK offers a content removal tool for copyright holders.\n[\n55\n]\n[\n56\n]\nLarge-scale copyright holders may gain access to bulk content removal tools.\n[\n57\n]\nSince 2010, VK has also entered several partnerships with legal content providers such as television networks.\n[\n58\n]\nand streaming providers.\n[\n59\n]\nMost notably, the Video on Demand provider\nIvi.ru\nthat has secured licensing rights with all Hollywood majors in 2012.\n[\n60\n]\nThese partnerships allow providers to remove user-uploaded content from VK and substitute it with legal embedded copies from the provider's site.\n[\n61\n]\nThis legal content can be either ad-sponsored, subscription-based, or free, depending on the provider's choices. VK does not display its own advertising in the site's music or video sections, nor in the videos themselves. In October 2013, VKontakte was cleared of copyright infringement charges by a court in\nSaint Petersburg\n. The judge ruled that the social network is not responsible for the content uploaded by its users.\n[\n62\n]\nIn November 2014, the head of the\nRoskomnadzor\n,\nMaxim Ksenzov\n, said that VKontakte would complete the process of legalization of the content at the beginning of 2015. At that time (November 2014), negotiations between major label companies and the social network VKontakte were ongoing.\n[\n63\n]\nDDoS attacks on sites\n[\nedit\n]\nBecause the social network is one of the most popular and visited sites in\nrunet\n, its visits can be used to make DDoS attacks on smaller sites.\nVK performed\nDDOS attacks\non certain sites, making users' browsers send multiple requests to the target site without their consent. The targets were the\nRunet Prize\nvoting page in 2008\n[\n64\n]\nand the\nCAPTCHA\n-solving service antigate.com in 2012.\n[\n65\n]\n[\n66\n]\nIt was done by inserting an iframe and a piece of JavaScript code which periodically reloaded the iframe. As a countermeasure, antigate was detecting whether iframe was loaded from VK and if it were antigate had redirected request to\nxHamster\n, a\npornography website\n. VK needed to cease the attack due to the site's use by children. VK tried to use\nXMLHttpRequest\nto solve this problem, but had forgotten about the\nsame-origin policy\n. They succeeded in stopping the attack, though there were many ways to solve the problem with redirect\n[\noriginal research?\n]\n.\nDurov was dismissed as CEO in April 2014 after he had failed to retract a letter of resignation. Durov contended that the resignation letter was an\nApril fools\nprank.\n[\n46\n]\nDurov then claimed\nVladimir Putin's\nallies had, in effect, taken over the company,\n[\n46\n]\n[\n48\n]\n[\n67\n]\nand suggested his ousting was the result of his refusal to hand over personal details of users to the\nRussian Federal Security Service\nand his refusal to shut down a VK group dedicated to anti-corruption activist\nAlexei Navalny\n.\n[\n46\n]\n[\n48\n]\nOn 24 May 2013, it was reported in the media that the site had been mistakenly put on a list of websites banned by the Russian government.\n[\n68\n]\nSome critics have accused the blacklist as the latest in a series of suspicious incidents to have happened to the website in recent months as a way for the Russian government to increase their stake in, and control of the site.\n[\n69\n]\nOn 18 November 2013, following an order from the Court of\nRome\n, VK was blocked in\nItaly\nafter a complaint from\nMedusa Film\nstating that it was hosting an illegal copy of one of its films.\n[\n70\n]\nHowever, in April 2015, the site was reopened for Italian users and its mobile app is available on both the\nApp Store\nand\nGoogle Play\n.\n[\ncitation needed\n]\nIn January 2016,\nChina\nbanned VKontakte, claiming that it was manipulating web content and cooperating with the Kremlin. According to Russia's\nmedia watchdog\n, the network estimates around 300,000 users based in China.\n[\n71\n]\nAs of 14 February 2018, China authorities unblocked VKontakte and it was fully accessible in the country.\n[\n72\n]\nIn May 2017, Ukrainian President\nPetro Poroshenko\nsigned a decree to impose a ban on Mail.ru and its widely used social networks including VKontakte and\nOdnoklassniki\nas part of its continued sanctions on Russia for its\nannexation of Crimea\nand involvement in the\nwar in Donbas\n.\n[\n26\n]\n[\n73\n]\n[\n74\n]\nReporters Without Borders\ncondemned the ban, calling it a \"disproportionate measure that seriously undermines the Ukrainian people's right to information and freedom of expression.\"\n[\n75\n]\nVK closed its office in Ukraine's capital\nKyiv\nin June 2017.\n[\n76\n]\nIn December 2021, VKontakte's CEO, Boris Dobrodeev resigned from his post.\nReuters\nlinked Dobrodeev's resignation to the acquisition of VK's majority interest by two state-owned companies that happened the same month. According to one analyst, the state consolidation of VKontakte would cause greater censorship by the government.\n[\n77\n]\nOn 12 May 2022, in connection with the sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU), NEPLP decided to limit the activity of \"VKontakte\" (\"vk.com\"), \"Odnoklassniki\" (\"ok.ru\") and \"Moy Mir\" (\"my.mail.ru\") social medias in\nLatvia\n. The decision was made because NEPLP has evidence that the platforms are owned and controlled by\nYury Kovalchuk\nand\nVladimir Kiriyenko\n. The mentioned persons are subject to EU sanctions in connection with undermining the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.\n[\n78\n]\nAfter the\nRussian military invasion of Ukraine\n, on 26 September 2022, the VK application (as well as other applications of the holding services) was removed from the Apple App Store due to\ninternational sanctions\n.\n[\n79\n]\n[\n80\n]\nOn 28 September, the Russian communications regulator\nRoskomnadzor\nissued a statement demanding an explanation for the removal of the VK application from the App Store.\n[\n81\n]\nCEO\nVladimir Kiriyenko\nwas sanctioned by the United States, India, Canada, United Kingdom, European Union, Japan, Australia and various countries.\n[\n82\n]\nProsecution of users in Russia\n[\nedit\n]\nIn July 2012, VKontakte was accused of close cooperation with the\nCentre for Combating Extremism (Centre E)\n, a unit within the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs heavily criticized for repressing opposition activists.\n[\n83\n]\n[\n84\n]\nFor publications, reposts, comments and\nlikes\nposted on their VKontakte pages, dozens of Russian citizens were sentenced to fines, suspended sentences and imprisonment. Most of the cases against users are qualified as propaganda of extremism, xenophobia and Nazism. Statistically, among all the social networking services available in Russia, the users of VKontakte were targeted by police almost exclusively.\n[\n85\n]\n[\n86\n]\nEvents and projects\n[\nedit\n]\nAutomated workplace of a civil servant\n[\nedit\n]\nBy 2023, on the basis of VK, the “Automated workplace of a civil servant” (АРМ ГС in Russian) was developed, to which it is planned to transfer all Russian civil servants. AWP includes mail, calendar, cloud storage, instant messenger, supports audio and video calls. It should replace Telegram, WhatsApp, Gmail, Google Docs, Zoom and Skype widely used in Russia. Thus, the Russian government intends to exclude foreign services from the public administration system. Officials were supposed to switch to \"Automated workplace\" from May 1, 2023.\n[\n87\n]\nIn June 2023, the\nMinistry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media\nannounced a competition for software developers to \"scale\" the workspace and provide the necessary level of cryptographic protection. It is planned to spend 9 million rubles on the project.\n[\n88\n]\nVK organized their first 24-hour\nHackathon\nin 2015 from 31 October to 1 November. The participants were invited to develop projects united by a common idea: “Make it Simple!” (Russian: «Упрощайте!»). 34 teams took part in the competition. A prize pool of 300 thousand rubles was split among the winners.\n[\n89\n]\nThe second VK Hackathon took place from 26 to 27 November 2016. The participants developed projects for the community app platform. The “Search for Lost Cats” (Russian: «Поиск пропавших котиков») app won the “Developers’ Choice” category. The prize pool for the event was 300 thousand rubles.\n[\n90\n]\nThe third VK Hackathon took place from 20 to 22 October 2017 with 320 participants competing in the event. The prize pool was one million rubles. An application designed to help users navigate the\nState Hermitage Museum\nwon the “Culture” category.\n[\n91\n]\nIn 2011, Pavel Durov and\nYuri Milner\ncreated Start Fellows, a grant program founded to support projects in the field of technology.\n[\n92\n]\nIn 2014, VK took over the Start Fellows program and made it more systematic. The grant was provided to 3 companies each month and included project consultation from VK along with 25 thousand rubles a month for advertisement on the VK platform. Winners of the grant include “University Schedules” (Russian: «Расписание вузов»), a scheduling app, LiveCamDroid, a mobile streaming service, HTML Academy, an educational project, and others.\n[\n93\n]\n[\n94\n]\n[\n95\n]\n[\n96\n]\nVK re-launched the project in 2017. Only active projects with an earnings model could submit applications. 327 grant applications were received but only 67 of them passed the initial screening. The total prize pool was 2.5 million rubles.\n[\n97\n]\nThe first VK Cup, a programming championship for young programmers aged 13–23, was held on 16 July 2012 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.\n[\n98\n]\nVK and\nCodeforces\nco-organized the second VK Cup programming championship, which took place from 24 to 27 July 2015. The winners received a total of 1,048,576 or 2\n20\nrubles (an amount related to round binary numbers).\n[\n99\n]\nThe third VK Cup took place from 1 to 4 July 2016 and had a prize pool of 2.5 million rubles.\n[\n100\n]\nVK and Codeforces co-organized the fourth VK Cup which took place from 8 to 9 July 2017. Teams from 52 countries applied to take part in the competition. The prize pool for the competition was 2.5 million rubles.\n[\n101\n]\nThe first VK Music Awards ceremony took place on 25 December 2017. The VK Music Awards were produced by\nTimur Bekmambetov\nand the\nBazelevs Company\nwith\nPavel Volya\nhosting the event.\n[\n102\n]\nThe awards ceremony was held in the form of an online live stream.\n[\n103\n]\nAny VK user could watch the broadcast live. After the ceremony, a private concert was held in the\nVegas City Hall\nin Moscow. Tickets to the event could be won through a contest held in the VK Music community.\n[\n102\n]\nVK Music Awards winners were determined by the number of plays an artist's song got on VK and the BOOM app. The names of the 30 award winners were published on the official VK Music Awards community page and on the BOOM app website. “Rosé Wine” (\nAllj\nand\nFeduk\n), “Lambada” (\nT-Fest\nand\nScriptonite\n), and “My Half” (\nMiyaGi and Endspiel\n [\nru\n]\n) topped the list of most listened to songs. The official pages of all award winners have been marked with a special symbol.\n[\n104\n]\nSince 2015, VK has held a yearly 2-day open-air music and entertainment festival. This festival traditionally takes place on a weekend in July at the\n300th Anniversary Park\n [\nru\n]\n(Russian: Парк имени 300-летия Санкт-Петербурга) in St. Petersburg, Russia. According to data from the organizer, 70 thousand people attended the festival in 2016, with the number rising to 85 thousand attendees in 2017. In 2017, around 40 artists and groups performed on 3 stages, including\nLittle Big\n,\nThe Hatters\n, and others. Bloggers and other famous individuals, such as\nDmitry Grishin\n,\nTimur Bekmambetov\n, and\nMikhail Piotrovsky\n(speakers at the 2017 festival), are also an important part of the festival. More than 1.5 million people watched the festival's official live stream.\n[\n105\n]\nAmbient awareness\nCyworld\nFacebook\nInternet in Russia\nMyspace\nQzone\nList of social networking websites\n^\n\"Mail.ru Group Financial Statements 2016\"\n(PDF)\n.\nMail.ru\n.\nArchived\n(PDF)\nfrom the original on 8 July 2017\n. Retrieved\n26 August\n2017\n.\n^\n\"Во «ВКонтакте» появилась возможность редактировать отправленные сообщения\"\n.\nrbc.ru\n.\nRBK Group\n. 27 November 2017.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 9 July 2023\n. Retrieved\n13 September\n2023\n.\n^\n\"Social gaming: revenue in Russia 2010-2013 | Statistic\"\n.\nStatista.com\n. Archived from\nthe original\non 21 August 2019\n. Retrieved\n23 February\n2015\n.\n^\n\"List of VK users\"\n. Vk.com. Archived from\nthe original\non 1 March 2020\n. Retrieved\n5 February\n2018\n.\n^\n\"Russia's Top Websites Ranking in November 2022 | Similarweb\"\n.\nSimilarweb\n.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 16 March 2022\n. Retrieved\n20 December\n2022\n.\n^\n\"Рада підтримала продовження заборони на російські соцмережі\"\n.\nRBC-Ukraine\n.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 25 July 2021\n. Retrieved\n25 July\n2021\n.\n^\n\"Website Ranking\"\n.\nSemrush\n.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 19 December 2023\n. Retrieved\n29 April\n2024\n.\n^\n\"The Kremlin's war on streaming: How Russia is moving to block YouTube and why its efforts may bring down the entire Runet\"\n.\nThe Insider\n(in Russian)\n. Retrieved\n3 March\n2025\n.\n^\nTimes, The Moscow (15 January 2025).\n\"VKontakte Overtakes YouTube in Web Traffic for First Time in Russia\"\n.\nThe Moscow Times\n.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 6 February 2025\n. Retrieved\n3 March\n2025\n.\n^\nGutelle, Sam (15 January 2025).\n\"Russia made it harder for citizens to watch YouTube. They're going to VKontakte instead\"\n.\nTubefilter\n.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 10 February 2025\n. Retrieved\n3 March\n2025\n.\n^\nVlasova, Olga (2 October 2024).\n\"Why are Russians struggling to access YouTube?\"\n.\nThe Loop\n.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 3 April 2025\n. Retrieved\n3 March\n2025\n.\n^\nAndrei Loshak\n(16 October 2019).\n\"История рунета. Бизнес: ОК, ВК и все-все-все\"\n.\nРадио Свобода\n(in Russian).\nRadio Free Europe\/Radio Liberty\n.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 27 August 2024\n. Retrieved\n17 April\n2024\n.\n^\na\nb\n\"Код Павла Дурова\"\n.\nForbes\n(in Russian). 24 June 2011.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 27 June 2011\n. Retrieved\n17 April\n2024\n.\n^\nFriedrichsen & Mühl-Benninghaus 2013\n, p. 406.\n^\n\"Vkontakte Remains more popular than Facebook in Russia\"\n.\nMynewsdesk\n.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 7 August 2018\n. Retrieved\n7 August\n2018\n.\n^\n\"VK.com New Interface, Design, Looks & Tips\"\n.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 18 September 2016\n. Retrieved\n22 August\n2016\n.\n^\nSupported are the formats: doc, docx, xls, xlsx, ppt, pptx, rtf, pdf, png, jpg, gif, psd, mp3, djvu, fb2, ps and archives containing these formats. Executable files and files over 200 Mb are not allowed. Video chat is also available (for users who allow incoming calls) since 2012.\n^\n\"Types of community pages\"\n.\nvk.com\n.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 17 March 2020\n. Retrieved\n20 February\n2018\n.\n^\n\"Vkontakte Music 2.0\"\n.\nvk.com\n.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 8 May 2017\n. Retrieved\n20 February\n2018\n.\n^\n\"Alexa - top sites in Russia\"\n. Alexa.com.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 3 April 2009\n. Retrieved\n31 May\n2017\n.\n^\n\"Alexa - top sites in Belarus\"\n. Alexa.com.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 3 April 2009\n. Retrieved\n31 May\n2017\n.\n^\n\"Alexa - top sites in Kazakhstan\"\n. Alexa.com.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 3 April 2009\n. Retrieved\n31 May\n2017\n.\n^\n\"Alexa - top sites in Kyrgyzstan\"\n. Alexa.com.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 3 April 2009\n. Retrieved\n31 May\n2017\n.\n^\n\"Alexa - top sites in Moldova\"\n. Alexa.com.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 3 April 2009\n. Retrieved\n31 May\n2017\n.\n^\n\"Alexa - top sites in Latvia\"\n. Alexa.com.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 3 April 2009\n. Retrieved\n31 May\n2017\n.\n^\na\nb\n\"Ukraine's Poroshenko to block Russian social networks\"\n.\nBBC News\n. 16 May 2017. Archived from\nthe original\non 9 January 2021\n. Retrieved\n21 July\n2018\n.\n^\n\"Banned VK social network remains fourth in Internet traffic in Ukraine in May\"\n.\nInterfax-Ukraine\n. 13 June 2018. Archived from\nthe original\non 30 November 2020\n. Retrieved\n13 June\n2018\n.\n^\n\"Alexa - top sites in Ukraine\"\n. Alexa.com.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 3 April 2009\n. Retrieved\n9 August\n2019\n.\n^\na\nb\n\"Three years without VKontakte: what social networks do Ukrainians prefer\"\n.\nUkrayinska Pravda\n(in Ukrainian). 14 November 2019. Archived from\nthe original\non 14 November 2019\n. Retrieved\n14 November\n2019\n.\n^\n\"Rossiyskaya Gazeta: Most Russians ready to move to domestic social media platforms\"\n.\nRossiyskaya Gazeta\n. 24 March 2022.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 20 April 2022\n. Retrieved\n24 March\n2022\n.\n^\n\"Lev Leviev sells Russian social network stake\"\n. Globes. 18 April 2013.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 6 July 2013\n. Retrieved\n24 August\n2013\n.\n^\nКто в контакте\n(in Russian). Vedomosti. 29 February 2008\n. Retrieved\n16 April\n2011\n.\n^\na\nb\n\"Театр Дурова: почему основатель «ВКонтакте» проиграл битву за социальную сеть\"\n.\nForbes\n(in Russian). 20 March 2014.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 7 February 2024\n. Retrieved\n17 April\n2024\n.\n^\n\"Exercise of Option\"\n. Mail.ru Group. 14 July 2011. Archived from\nthe original\non 6 October 2011\n. Retrieved\n29 July\n2011\n.\n^\n\"Vkontakte.ru shareholder structure unveiled\"\n. East-West Digital News. 6 August 2011.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 27 September 2011\n. Retrieved\n14 November\n2012\n.\n^\n\"Лев Левиев впервые рассказал свою версию продажи «ВКонтакте»\"\n.\nThe Bell\n. 1 November 2019.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 17 March 2024\n. Retrieved\n17 April\n2024\n.\n^\n\"Shareholder Mail.ru Group yields control to founder\"\n. ewdn.com. 30 May 2012.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 2 June 2012\n. Retrieved\n30 May\n2012\n.\n^\nBowker, John (29 May 2012).\n\"Russia's VKontakte delays IPO after Facebook debacle\"\n. Moscow: Reuters.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 23 January 2016\n. Retrieved\n31 May\n2012\n.\n^\n\"The richest Israelis got NIS 10 billion richer in 2013\"\n.\nHaaretz\n. Haaretz.com.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 27 July 2013\n. Retrieved\n23 February\n2015\n.\n^\n\"UCP closes deal to buy 48% of Vkontakte from Mirilashvili, Leviev\"\n,\ninterfax\n, archived from\nthe original\non 23 June 2019\n, retrieved\n14 February\n2014\n^\nMaria Kiselyova (24 January 2014).\n\"Usmanov tightens hold on Russian social net VKontakte as founder sells stake\"\n. The West Australian (Reuters).\nArchived\nfrom the original on 1 March 2014\n. Retrieved\n18 February\n2014\n.\n^\nOlga Razumovskaya (18 March 2014).\n\"Mail.Ru Secures Control of VKontakte\"\n.\nThe Wall Street Journal\n.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 18 March 2014\n. Retrieved\n18 March\n2014\n.\n^\n\"No joke as 'Russian Facebook' founder resigns amid dispute (Update)\"\n\"\n.\nphys.org\n. 1 April 2014. Archived from\nthe original\non 8 March 2016\n. Retrieved\n29 February\n2016\n.\n\"Pavel Durov Resigns As Head Of Russian Social Network VK.com, Ukraine Conflict Was The Tipping Point\"\n.\ntechcrunch.com\n. 1 April 2014. Archived from\nthe original\non 8 July 2017\n. Retrieved\n29 February\n2016\n.\n^\n\"Going, going, gone - Pavel Durov quits VK\"\n.\nRusbase\n. 2 April 2014. Archived from\nthe original\non 6 March 2016\n. Retrieved\n29 February\n2016\n.\n^\n\"Founder of Social Network VK Pavel Durov Says Resignation as CEO was April Fools' Prank\"\n.\nThe Moscow Times\n. 4 April 2014. Archived from\nthe original\non 4 March 2016\n. Retrieved\n29 February\n2016\n.\n^\na\nb\nc\nd\ne\nf\n\"Vkontakte Founder Pavel Durov Learns He's Been Fired Through Media | Business\"\n. The Moscow Times. 22 April 2014.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 23 April 2014\n. Retrieved\n23 February\n2015\n.\n^\na\nb\n\"Durov, Out For Good From VK.com, Plans A Mobile Social Network Outside Russia\"\n.\nTechCrunch\n. 22 April 2014. Archived from\nthe original\non 6 July 2017\n. Retrieved\n25 June\n2017\n.\n^\na\nb\nc\nd\ne\n\"Pavel Durov left Russia after being pushed out\"\n. Archived from\nthe original\non 24 April 2014\n. Retrieved\n23 April\n2014\n.\n^\na\nb\n\"Mail.ru deal firms control over VKontakte\"\n.\nFinancial Times\n. 16 September 2014.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 21 September 2014\n. Retrieved\n1 February\n2017\n.\n^\n\"Russia's Mail.Ru buys remaining stake in VKontakte for $1.5 bln\"\n.\nReuters\n. 16 September 2014.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 21 June 2020\n. Retrieved\n20 January\n2015\n.\n^\n\"Russia takes direct control of top social media networks\"\n. The Bell. 6 December 2021.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 14 April 2022\n. Retrieved\n14 April\n2022\n.\n^\n\"Gazprom Gains Control of Russia's Top Social Network\"\n. The Moscow Times. 3 December 2021.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 14 April 2022\n. Retrieved\n14 April\n2022\n.\n^\n\"Russian court rules social network not responsible for user copyright violations\"\n.\newdn.com\n. 16 March 2011.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 22 October 2012\n. Retrieved\n17 September\n2012\n.\n^\n\"Vkontakte.ru too \"passive\" with copyright infringement, says arbitration court\"\n.\newdn.com\n. 22 February 2012.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 21 November 2020\n. Retrieved\n18 September\n2012\n.\n^\n\"Copyright Violation Notification\"\n. Vk.com.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 12 October 2011\n. Retrieved\n6 January\n2013\n.\n^\n\"VK.com TakeDown Process | Artistic License\"\n.\nArtistic License\n.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 26 October 2017\n. Retrieved\n5 July\n2018\n.\n^\n\"TNT removes its videos from Vkontakte\"\n.\nLenta.ru\n(in Russian). 10 November 2010.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 22 November 2020\n. Retrieved\n18 September\n2012\n.\n^\n\"CTC Media clamps down on piracy\"\n.\newdn.com\n. 20 June 2011.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 16 June 2012\n. Retrieved\n17 September\n2012\n.\n^\n\"Vkontakte to replace pirated video with legal content\"\n.\nLenta.ru\n. 25 November 2010.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 22 November 2020\n. Retrieved\n18 September\n2012\n.\n^\n\"Russian Online Video Service ivi.ru Inks Deals with Hollywood Majors\"\n.\nThe Hollywood Reporter\n. 27 April 2012.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 7 January 2021\n. Retrieved\n20 February\n2020\n.\n^\n\"Interview with Oleg Tumanov, Ivi.ru CEO\"\n.\nRBC Daily\n(in Russian). 14 May 2012.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 1 November 2012\n. Retrieved\n18 September\n2012\n.\n^\nAndy (26 October 2013).\n\"Russian Facebook Not Responsible For Users' Pirate Music Uploads\"\n. Torrentfreak.com.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 29 October 2013\n. Retrieved\n21 June\n2014\n.\n^\n\"\n\"ВКонтакте\" удалит весь пиратский контент в начале 2015 года | MacDigger - Новости из мира Apple\"\n. Macdigger.ru. 20 November 2014.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 5 December 2014\n. Retrieved\n23 February\n2015\n.\n^\n\"ВКонтакте против \"Премии рунета\"\n\"\n. Habrahabr.ru. 24 October 2008.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 21 April 2012\n. Retrieved\n20 January\n2015\n.\n^\n\"\n\"ÂÊîíòàêòå\" îñóùåñòâèë DDoS àòàêó íà ñàéò antigate.com\"\n. Securitylab.ru. 26 April 2012.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 27 April 2012\n. Retrieved\n20 January\n2015\n.\n^\n\"ВКонтакте ддосит antigate.com\"\n. Habrahabr.ru.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 27 April 2012\n. Retrieved\n20 January\n2015\n.\n^\nToor, Amar (22 April 2014).\n\"Russia's largest social network is under the control of Putin's allies, founder says\"\n.\nThe Verge\n.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 23 April 2014\n. Retrieved\n23 February\n2015\n.\n^\n\"Error blacklists Russia's top social network VKontakte\"\n.\nBBC News\n. 24 May 2013.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 9 June 2013\n. Retrieved\n24 August\n2013\n.\n^\nBalmforth, Tom (28 May 2013).\n\"Russia's Top Social Network Under Fire\"\n.\nRferl.org\n.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 28 May 2013\n. Retrieved\n24 August\n2013\n.\n^\n\"How Berlusconi's Company Blocked Off vKontakte and File-Hosting Sites in Italy\"\n. News.softpedia.com. 19 November 2013.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 20 November 2013\n. Retrieved\n21 June\n2014\n.\n^\n\"Russia's Media Watchdog Boasts It 'Convinced' China to Lift Vkontakte Ban\"\n.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 29 December 2018\n. Retrieved\n9 March\n2018\n.\n^\n\"China unblocks Russian social network VKontakte\"\n.\nTASS\n(in Russian).\nArchived\nfrom the original on 10 March 2018\n. Retrieved\n9 March\n2018\n.\n^\nPoroshenko, Petro\n(15 May 2017).\n\"УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №133\/2017: Про рішення Ради національної безпеки і оборони України від 28 квітня 2017 року \"Про застосування персональних спеціальних економічних та інших обмежувальних заходів (санкцій)\"\n\"\n[DECREE OF THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE №133 \/ 2017: On the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine dated April 28, 2017 \"On the application of personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions)\"].\nОфіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України\n(in Ukrainian). President of Ukraine.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 16 May 2017\n. Retrieved\n13 March\n2018\n.\n^\n\"Додаток 2 до рішення Ради національної безпеки і оборони України від \"28\" квітня 2017 року \"Про застосування персональних спеціальних економічних та інших обмежувальних заходів (санкцій)\" ЮРИДИЧНІ ОСОБИ, до яких застосовуються обмежувальні заходи (санкції)\"\n[Annex 2 to the Decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine dated April 28, 2017 \"On the Application of Personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions) \"Legal Entities under Restrictive Measures (Sanctions)\"]\n(PDF)\n(in Ukrainian). President of Ukraine. 28 April 2017. p. 185-6 (#422 mail.ru Group), 186-7 (#423 ТОВ «Вконтакте» (VKontakte)), 187-8 (#424 ТОВ «В Контакті» (In Kontakte)) & 189 (#425 mail.ru Ukraine). This is a prohibition of Internet Service Providers (ISP) to provide access to the internet service «Mail.ru» (www.mail.ru) and social-oriented resources «Vkontakte» (www.vk.com) and «Odnoklassniki» (www. ok).\nArchived\n(PDF)\nfrom the original on 18 May 2017\n. Retrieved\n13 March\n2018\n.\n^\n\"rsf-urges-ukraine-scrap-ban-russian-social-media-sites\"\n.\nRSF\n. 23 May 2017. Archived from\nthe original\non 8 July 2017\n. Retrieved\n25 June\n2017\n.\n^\n\"Russia's VKontakte closes office in Kyiv\"\n.\nUNIAN\n. 17 June 2017. Archived from\nthe original\non 5 February 2021\n. Retrieved\n17 June\n2017\n.\n^\nAlexander Marrow (3 December 2021).\n\"CEO of Russia's VK resigns as state assumes control of internet firm\"\n. Reuters.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 14 April 2022\n. Retrieved\n14 April\n2022\n.\n^\n\"Latvijā bloķēs sociālos tīklus \"Vkontakte\" un \"Odnoklassniki\"\n\"\n.\nLsm.lv\n.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 12 May 2022\n. Retrieved\n12 May\n2022\n.\n^\n\"Apple Removes Russian VK Apps From App Store in Response to UK Sanctions\"\n.\nMacRumors\n. 28 September 2022.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 5 December 2022\n. Retrieved\n27 December\n2022\n.\n^\n\"Приложение VK пропало из App Store\"\n.\nrbc.ru\n(in Russian). 26 September 2022.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 27 September 2022\n. Retrieved\n26 September\n2022\n.\n^\n\"Russia demands Apple explain after VK apps removed from App Store\"\n.\nReuters\n. 28 September 2022.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 28 September 2022\n. Retrieved\n28 September\n2022\n.\n^\nFaife, Corin (26 February 2022).\n\"The US has sanctioned the head of Russia's largest social network\"\n.\nThe Verge\n.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 4 January 2023\n. Retrieved\n27 December\n2022\n.\n^\n\"How the Kremlin Infiltrated Russia's Facebook\"\n.\nWired UK\n.\nISSN\n \n1357-0978\n.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 29 July 2022\n. Retrieved\n29 July\n2022\n.\n^\n\"The dark doings of Russia's Centre E\"\n.\nopenDemocracy\n.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 22 January 2023\n. Retrieved\n29 July\n2022\n.\n^\n\"2016-07-07 In 'kontakt' with the cops When Russian police go after Internet users, why do they target people on VKontakte almost exclusively?\"\n.\nMeduza\n.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 29 July 2022\n. Retrieved\n29 July\n2022\n.\n^\n\"How the Kremlin Infiltrated Russia's Facebook\"\n.\nWired UK\n.\nISSN\n \n1357-0978\n.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 29 July 2022\n. Retrieved\n29 July\n2022\n.\n^\n\"Госслужащим поручили перейти на мессенджер от VK до конца апреля\"\n.\nSostav.ru\n(in Russian). 7 March 2023.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 29 June 2023\n. Retrieved\n28 June\n2023\n.\n^\n\"У российских чиновников появится свой мессенджер почти за 1 млрд рублей\"\n.\nBanki.ru\n. 28 June 2023. Archived from\nthe original\non 29 August 2024\n. Retrieved\n28 June\n2023\n.\n^\nKontsarenko, Philipp (2 November 2015).\n\"Фоторепортаж: Первый хакатон \"ВКонтакте\" — Соцсети на vc.ru\"\n.\nvc.ru\n.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 12 November 2018\n. Retrieved\n12 November\n2018\n.\n^\n\"\n\"Поиск пропавших котиков\": приложение, которое ищет потерявшихся животных с помощью нейросетей — Meduza\"\n.\nMeduza\n(in Russian).\nArchived\nfrom the original on 4 December 2018\n. Retrieved\n12 November\n2018\n.\n^\n\"На Хакатоне \"ВКонтакте\" победили авторы приложения, помогающего выбрать маршрут в Эрмитаже\"\n.\n«Бумага»\n(in Russian). 23 October 2017.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 4 December 2018\n. Retrieved\n12 November\n2018\n.\n^\nMadhumita Venkataramanan (15 August 2012).\n\"Europe's 100 hottest startups 2012: Moscow\"\n. Wired.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 14 April 2017\n. Retrieved\n14 April\n2022\n.\n^\nКонстантин Панфилов (21 August 2014).\n\"Победителем конкурса стартапов Start Fellows стал мобильный сервис видеостриминга LiveCamDroid\"\n(in Russian). VC.ru.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 9 August 2022\n. Retrieved\n14 April\n2022\n.\n^\nКонстантин Панфилов (16 October 2014).\n\"Победителями конкурса стартапов Start Fellows от \"ВКонтакте\" стали HTML Academy и \"Попутчик\"\n\"\n(in Russian). VC.ru.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 14 April 2022\n. Retrieved\n14 April\n2022\n.\n^\n\"\n\"ВКонтакте\" назвала нового получателя гранта Start Fellows\"\n(in Russian). The Village. 15 July 2014.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 14 April 2022\n. Retrieved\n14 April\n2022\n.\n^\n\"Пробуждение с гарантией\"\n(in Russian). Kommersant. 11 June 2019.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 14 April 2022\n. Retrieved\n14 April\n2022\n.\n^\n\"Победители Start Fellows получили 2,5 млн рублей от ВКонтакте\"\n. Archived from\nthe original\non 18 June 2018\n. Retrieved\n12 November\n2018\n.\n^\n\"\n\"ВКонтакте\" назвали победителей VK Cup\"\n(in Russian). Tass. 2 November 2020.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 14 April 2022\n. Retrieved\n14 April\n2022\n.\n^\nvc.ru, Редакция (27 July 2015).\n\"Фоторепортаж: \"ВКонтакте\" провела второй чемпионат по программированию VK Cup 2015 — Соцсети на vc.ru\"\n.\nvc.ru\n.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 13 November 2018\n. Retrieved\n12 November\n2018\n.\n^\n\"VK Cup 2016 - Codeforces\"\n.\nCodeforces\n.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 6 March 2016\n. Retrieved\n12 November\n2018\n.\n^\n\"\n\"ВКонтакте\" выплатила 2,5 миллиона рублей призёрам VK Cup 2017\"\n.\nСобака.ru\n.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 21 November 2018\n. Retrieved\n12 November\n2018\n.\n^\na\nb\n\"\n\"ВКонтакте\" завершит год вручением своей первой музыкальной премии\"\n. 15 December 2017.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 28 October 2018\n. Retrieved\n12 November\n2018\n.\n^\n\"VK Music: Listen to songs and music online for free | VK\"\n.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 11 March 2022\n. Retrieved\n9 September\n2019\n.\n^\n\"В Москве прошла премия VK Music Awards. Были названы 30 главных треков года\"\n.\nThe-Flow.ru\n(in Russian).\nArchived\nfrom the original on 4 December 2018\n. Retrieved\n12 November\n2018\n.\n^\n\"В Петербурге на выходных пройдет третий VK Fest\"\n.\nРоссийская газета\n(in Russian). 14 July 2017.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 7 March 2019\n. Retrieved\n12 November\n2018\n.\nFriedrichsen, Mike; Mühl-Benninghaus, Wolfgang, eds. (2013).\nHandbook of Social Media Management\n. Berlin: Springer.\nISBN\n \n978-3-642-28897-5\n.","attrs_markdown":"[Jump to content](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#bodyContent)\n\nMain menu\n\nMain menu\n\nmove to sidebar\n\nhide\n\nNavigation\n\n- [Main page](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Main_Page \"Visit the main page [z]\")\n- [Contents](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Contents \"Guides to browsing Wikipedia\")\n- [Current events](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Portal:Current_events \"Articles related to current events\")\n- [Random article](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:Random \"Visit a randomly selected article [x]\")\n- [About Wikipedia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:About \"Learn about Wikipedia and how it works\")\n- [Contact us](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Contact_us \"How to contact Wikipedia\")\n\nContribute\n\n- [Help](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Help:Contents \"Guidance on how to use and edit Wikipedia\")\n- [Learn to edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Help:Introduction \"Learn how to edit Wikipedia\")\n- [Community portal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Community_portal \"The hub for editors\")\n- [Recent changes](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:RecentChanges \"A list of recent changes to Wikipedia [r]\")\n- [Upload file](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:File_upload_wizard \"Add images or other media for use on Wikipedia\")\n- [Special pages](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:SpecialPages \"A list of all special pages [q]\")\n\n[![](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/static\/images\/icons\/enwiki-25.svg) ![Wikipedia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/static\/images\/mobile\/copyright\/wikipedia-wordmark-en-25.svg) ![The Free Encyclopedia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/static\/images\/mobile\/copyright\/wikipedia-tagline-en-25.svg)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Main_Page)\n\n[Search](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:Search \"Search Wikipedia [f]\")\n\nAppearance\n\n- [Donate](https:\/\/donate.wikimedia.org\/?wmf_source=donate&wmf_medium=sidebar&wmf_campaign=en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en)\n- [Create account](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=VK+%28service%29 \"You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory\")\n- [Log in](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=VK+%28service%29 \"You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [o]\")\n\nPersonal tools\n\n- [Donate](https:\/\/donate.wikimedia.org\/?wmf_source=donate&wmf_medium=sidebar&wmf_campaign=en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en)\n- [Create account](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=VK+%28service%29 \"You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory\")\n- [Log in](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=VK+%28service%29 \"You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [o]\")\n\n## Contents\nmove to sidebar\n\nhide\n\n- [(Top)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$)\n- [1 History](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#History)\n- [2 Website](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#Website)\n  Toggle Website subsection\n  - [2\\.1 Features](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#Features)\n  - [2\\.2 Popularity](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#Popularity)\n- [3 Ownership](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#Ownership)\n- [4 Controversies](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#Controversies)\n  Toggle Controversies subsection\n  - [4\\.1 Copyright issues](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#Copyright_issues)\n    - [4\\.1.1 Litigation](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#Litigation)\n    - [4\\.1.2 Efforts against copyright infringement](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#Efforts_against_copyright_infringement)\n  - [4\\.2 DDoS attacks on sites](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#DDoS_attacks_on_sites)\n  - [4\\.3 Durov's dismissal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#Durov's_dismissal)\n- [5 Censorship](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#Censorship)\n- [6 Prosecution of users in Russia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#Prosecution_of_users_in_Russia)\n- [7 Events and projects](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#Events_and_projects)\n  Toggle Events and projects subsection\n  - [7\\.1 Automated workplace of a civil servant](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#Automated_workplace_of_a_civil_servant)\n  - [7\\.2 Hackathons](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#Hackathons)\n  - [7\\.3 Start Fellows](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#Start_Fellows)\n  - [7\\.4 VK Cup](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#VK_Cup)\n  - [7\\.5 VK Music Awards](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#VK_Music_Awards)\n  - [7\\.6 VK Fest](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#VK_Fest)\n- [8 See also](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#See_also)\n- [9 References](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#References)\n- [10 Literature](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#Literature)\n- [11 External links](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#External_links)\n\nToggle the table of contents\n\n# VK (service)\n78 languages\n\n- [Afrikaans](https:\/\/af.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$sosiale_netwerk\$ \"VK (sosiale netwerk) – Afrikaans\")\n- [Алтай тил](https:\/\/alt.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%92%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 \"ВКонтакте – Southern Altai\")\n- [العربية](https:\/\/ar.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D9%81%D9%83%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%83%D8%AA%D9%8A \"فكونتاكتي – Arabic\")\n- [مصرى](https:\/\/arz.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%DA%A4%D9%89_%D9%83%D9%8A%D9%87_\$%D8%AE%D8%AF%D9%85%D9%87\$ \"ڤى كيه (خدمه) – Egyptian Arabic\")\n- [Azərbaycanca](https:\/\/az.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VKontakte \"VKontakte – Azerbaijani\")\n- [Башҡортса](https:\/\/ba.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%92%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 \"ВКонтакте – Bashkir\")\n- [Беларуская (тарашкевіца)](https:\/\/be-tarask.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%A3_%D0%9A%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%86%D0%B5 \"У Кантакце – Belarusian (Taraškievica orthography)\")\n- [Беларуская](https:\/\/be.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK \"VK – Belarusian\")\n- [Български](https:\/\/bg.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%92%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 \"ВКонтакте – Bulgarian\")\n- [বাংলা](https:\/\/bn.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%E0%A6%AD%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87 \"ভিকে – Bangla\")\n- [Bosanski](https:\/\/bs.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vk.com \"Vk.com – Bosnian\")\n- [Català](https:\/\/ca.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK \"VK – Catalan\")\n- [Čeština](https:\/\/cs.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$soci%C3%A1ln%C3%AD_s%C3%AD%C5%A5\$ \"VK (sociální síť) – Czech\")\n- [Словѣньскъ \/ ⰔⰎⰑⰂⰡⰐⰠⰔⰍⰟ](https:\/\/cu.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%92%D1%8A%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D1%94 \"ВъКонтактє – Church Slavic\")\n- [Чӑвашла](https:\/\/cv.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0 \"Контактра – Chuvash\")\n- [Deutsch](https:\/\/de.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vk.com \"Vk.com – German\")\n- [Ελληνικά](https:\/\/el.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VKontakte \"VKontakte – Greek\")\n- [Esperanto](https:\/\/eo.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VKontakte \"VKontakte – Esperanto\")\n- [Español](https:\/\/es.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK \"VK – Spanish\")\n- [Eesti](https:\/\/et.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VKontakte \"VKontakte – Estonian\")\n- [Euskara](https:\/\/eu.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK \"VK – Basque\")\n- [فارسی](https:\/\/fa.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D9%88%DB%8C%E2%80%8C%DA%A9%DB%8C \"وی‌کی – Persian\")\n- [Suomi](https:\/\/fi.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$sosiaalinen_verkosto\$ \"VK (sosiaalinen verkosto) – Finnish\")\n- [Français](https:\/\/fr.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VKontakte \"VKontakte – French\")\n- [Galego](https:\/\/gl.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK \"VK – Galician\")\n- [עברית](https:\/\/he.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK \"VK – Hebrew\")\n- [Hrvatski](https:\/\/hr.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vkontakte \"Vkontakte – Croatian\")\n- [Magyar](https:\/\/hu.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$k%C3%B6z%C3%B6ss%C3%A9gi_oldal\$ \"VK (közösségi oldal) – Hungarian\")\n- [Հայերեն](https:\/\/hy.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D5%8E%D4%BF \"ՎԿ – Armenian\")\n- [Bahasa Indonesia](https:\/\/id.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$jejaring_sosial\$ \"VK (jejaring sosial) – Indonesian\")\n- [Ido](https:\/\/io.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VKontakte \"VKontakte – Ido\")\n- [Italiano](https:\/\/it.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VKontakte \"VKontakte – Italian\")\n- [日本語](https:\/\/ja.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%E3%83%95%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%82%BF%E3%82%AF%E3%83%86 \"フコンタクテ – Japanese\")\n- [ქართული](https:\/\/ka.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$%E1%83%A1%E1%83%94%E1%83%A0%E1%83%95%E1%83%98%E1%83%A1%E1%83%98\$ \"VK (სერვისი) – Georgian\")\n- [Qaraqalpaqsha](https:\/\/kaa.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VKontakte \"VKontakte – Kara-Kalpak\")\n- [Taqbaylit](https:\/\/kab.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vk \"Vk – Kabyle\")\n- [Қазақша](https:\/\/kk.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%92%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 \"ВКонтакте – Kazakh\")\n- [한국어](https:\/\/ko.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$%EC%86%8C%EC%85%9C_%EB%84%A4%ED%8A%B8%EC%9B%8C%ED%81%AC\$ \"VK (소셜 네트워크) – Korean\")\n- [Кыргызча](https:\/\/ky.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%92%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 \"ВКонтакте – Kyrgyz\")\n- [Lëtzebuergesch](https:\/\/lb.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vk.com \"Vk.com – Luxembourgish\")\n- [Lietuvių](https:\/\/lt.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VKontakte \"VKontakte – Lithuanian\")\n- [Latviešu](https:\/\/lv.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VKontakte \"VKontakte – Latvian\")\n- [Олык марий](https:\/\/mhr.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%92%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 \"ВКонтакте – Eastern Mari\")\n- [Македонски](https:\/\/mk.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%92%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 \"Вконтакте – Macedonian\")\n- [Bahasa Melayu](https:\/\/ms.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$rangkaian_sosial\$ \"VK (rangkaian sosial) – Malay\")\n- [Эрзянь](https:\/\/myv.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%92%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 \"Вконтакте – Erzya\")\n- [नेपाली](https:\/\/ne.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%87_\$%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B2\$ \"भिके (सामाजिक सञ्जाल) – Nepali\")\n- [Nederlands](https:\/\/nl.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$sociaal_netwerk\$ \"VK (sociaal netwerk) – Dutch\")\n- [Norsk nynorsk](https:\/\/nn.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK \"VK – Norwegian Nynorsk\")\n- [Norsk bokmål](https:\/\/no.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK \"VK – Norwegian Bokmål\")\n- [Occitan](https:\/\/oc.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK \"VK – Occitan\")\n- [Ирон](https:\/\/os.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vk.com \"Vk.com – Ossetic\")\n- [Polski](https:\/\/pl.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK \"VK – Polish\")\n- [Português](https:\/\/pt.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK \"VK – Portuguese\")\n- [Runa Simi](https:\/\/qu.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK \"VK – Quechua\")\n- [Română](https:\/\/ro.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VKontakte \"VKontakte – Romanian\")\n- [Русский](https:\/\/ru.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%92%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 \"ВКонтакте – Russian\")\n- [Саха тыла](https:\/\/sah.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%92_%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 \"В Контакте – Yakut\")\n- [Srpskohrvatski \/ српскохрватски](https:\/\/sh.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VKontakte \"VKontakte – Serbo-Croatian\")\n- [Slovenčina](https:\/\/sk.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VKontakte \"VKontakte – Slovak\")\n- [Српски \/ srpski](https:\/\/sr.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%92K%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 \"ВKонтакте – Serbian\")\n- [Svenska](https:\/\/sv.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK \"VK – Swedish\")\n- [Тоҷикӣ](https:\/\/tg.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%92%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 \"ВКонтакте – Tajik\")\n- [Türkmençe](https:\/\/tk.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK.com \"VK.com – Turkmen\")\n- [Tolışi](https:\/\/tly.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vkontakte \"Vkontakte – Talysh\")\n- [Türkçe](https:\/\/tr.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK \"VK – Turkish\")\n- [Татарча \/ tatarça](https:\/\/tt.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vk.com \"Vk.com – Tatar\")\n- [Тыва дыл](https:\/\/tyv.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%92%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 \"ВКонтакте – Tuvinian\")\n- [Удмурт](https:\/\/udm.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%92%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 \"ВКонтакте – Udmurt\")\n- [Українська](https:\/\/uk.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$%D1%81%D0%BE%D1%86%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B6%D0%B0\$ \"VK (соцмережа) – Ukrainian\")\n- [Oʻzbekcha \/ ўзбекча](https:\/\/uz.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VKontakte \"VKontakte – Uzbek\")\n- [Vepsän kel’](https:\/\/vep.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vk.com \"Vk.com – Veps\")\n- [Tiếng Việt](https:\/\/vi.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VKontakte \"VKontakte – Vietnamese\")\n- [吴语](https:\/\/wuu.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VKontakte \"VKontakte – Wu\")\n- [მარგალური](https:\/\/xmf.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%92%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 \"ВКонтакте – Mingrelian\")\n- [文言](https:\/\/zh-classical.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%E5%A4%AB%E8%82%AF%E5%A1%94%E5%85%8B%E7%89%B9 \"夫肯塔克特 – Literary Chinese\")\n- [粵語](https:\/\/zh-yue.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VKontakte \"VKontakte – Cantonese\")\n- [中文](https:\/\/zh.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VKontakte \"VKontakte – Chinese\")\n\n[Edit links](https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Special:EntityPage\/Q116933#sitelinks-wikipedia \"Edit interlanguage links\")\n\n- [Article](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$ \"View the content page [c]\")\n- [Talk](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Talk:VK_\$service\$ \"Discuss improvements to the content page [t]\")\n\nEnglish\n\n- [Read](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$)\n- [Edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit \"Edit this page [e]\")\n- [View history](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=history \"Past revisions of this page [h]\")\n\nTools\n\nTools\n\nmove to sidebar\n\nhide\n\nActions\n\n- [Read](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$)\n- [Edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit \"Edit this page [e]\")\n- [View history](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=history)\n\nGeneral\n\n- [What links here](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:WhatLinksHere\/VK_\$service\$ \"List of all English Wikipedia pages containing links to this page [j]\")\n- [Related changes](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:RecentChangesLinked\/VK_\$service\$ \"Recent changes in pages linked from this page [k]\")\n- [Upload file](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:File_Upload_Wizard \"Upload files [u]\")\n- [Permanent link](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&oldid=1347524358 \"Permanent link to this revision of this page\")\n- [Page information](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=info \"More information about this page\")\n- [Cite this page](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:CiteThisPage&page=VK_%28service%29&id=1347524358&wpFormIdentifier=titleform \"Information on how to cite this page\")\n- [Get shortened URL](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:UrlShortener&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FVK_%28service%29)\n\nPrint\/export\n\n- [Download as PDF](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:DownloadAsPdf&page=VK_%28service%29&action=show-download-screen \"Download this page as a PDF file\")\n- [Printable version](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&printable=yes \"Printable version of this page [p]\")\n\nIn other projects\n\n- [Wikimedia Commons](https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Vkontakte)\n- [Wikidata item](https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Special:EntityPage\/Q116933 \"Structured data on this page hosted by Wikidata [g]\")\n\nAppearance\n\nmove to sidebar\n\nhide\n\nFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia\n\nRussian social media and social networking service\n\n|   |   |\n|---|---|\n| [![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/6\/60\/VK_Full_Logo_%282021-present%29.svg\/250px-VK_Full_Logo_%282021-present%29.svg.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:VK_Full_Logo_\$2021-present\$.svg) |   |\n| Screenshot [![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/2\/2c\/VK%27s_home_page_%28February_2026%29.png\/330px-VK%27s_home_page_%28February_2026%29.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:VK%27s_home_page_\$February_2026\$.png) |   |\n| Type of site | [Social networking service](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Social_networking_service \"Social networking service\") |\n| Available in | 86 languages |\n| Founded | 10 October 2006; 19 years ago (2006-10-10) in [Saint Petersburg](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Saint_Petersburg \"Saint Petersburg\"), Russia |\n| Area served | Worldwide; the majority of its users are in the former [USSR](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/USSR \"USSR\") or in the [CIS](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Commonwealth_of_Independent_States \"Commonwealth of Independent States\") |\n| Created by | [Pavel Durov](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pavel_Durov \"Pavel Durov\"), [Nikolai Durov](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nikolai_Durov \"Nikolai Durov\") |\n| CEO | [Vladimir Kiriyenko](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vladimir_Kiriyenko \"Vladimir Kiriyenko\") |\n| [Revenue](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Revenue \"Revenue\") | 42\\.751 [₽](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Russian_ruble \"Russian ruble\") billion (2016)[\\[1\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-1) |\n| [Parent](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Holding_company \"Holding company\") | [VK](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$company\$ \"VK (company)\") |\n| URL | [vk.com](http:\/\/vk.com\/) |\n| Registration | Required |\n| Launched | 10 October 2006; 19 years ago (2006-10-10) |\n| Current status | Active |\n\n**VK** (short for its original name ***VKontakte***; [Russian](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Russian_language \"Russian language\"): ВКонтакте, [lit.](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Literal_translation \"Literal translation\")'InContact') is a Russian online [social media](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Social_media \"Social media\") and [social networking service](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Social_networking_service \"Social networking service\") based in [Saint Petersburg](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Saint_Petersburg \"Saint Petersburg\"). VK is available in multiple languages but it is predominantly used by [Russian speakers](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Russophone \"Russophone\"). VK users can message each other publicly or privately, edit messages,[\\[2\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-2) create [groups](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Group_\$online_social_networking\$ \"Group (online social networking)\"), public pages, and events; share and tag images, audio, and [video](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Online_video_platform \"Online video platform\"); and play [browser-based games](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Browser_game \"Browser game\").[\\[3\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-3)\n\nAs of August 2018[\\[update\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit), VK had at least 500 million accounts.[\\[4\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-usercount-4) As of November 2022, it was the sixth most popular website in Russia.[\\[5\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-5) The network was also popular in [Ukraine](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ukraine \"Ukraine\") until it was banned by the [Supreme Council](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Verkhovna_Rada \"Verkhovna Rada\") in 2017.[\\[6\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-6)\n\nAccording to [Semrush](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Semrush \"Semrush\"), in 2024, VK was the 30th [most visited website in the world](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_most-visited_websites \"List of most-visited websites\");[\\[7\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-7) as [YouTube](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/YouTube \"YouTube\") is [subject to blocking in Russia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Internet_censorship_in_Russia \"Internet censorship in Russia\"),[\\[8\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-8) VK Video overtook [Google](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Google \"Google\")'s top position in monthly web traffic for the first time in December 2024,[\\[9\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-9) as part of the major substitution to domestic business.[\\[10\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-10)[\\[11\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-11)\n\n## History\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=1 \"Edit section: History\")\\]\n\n[![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/e\/ed\/VKontakte_Number_of_Registered_users_120224.png\/250px-VKontakte_Number_of_Registered_users_120224.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:VKontakte_Number_of_Registered_users_120224.png)\n\nNumber of Registered users (millions) on VKontakte between 2006 and 2012\n\n[![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/c\/c2\/Pavel_Durov_26years.jpg\/250px-Pavel_Durov_26years.jpg)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Pavel_Durov_26years.jpg)\n\n[Pavel Durov](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pavel_Durov \"Pavel Durov\"), the founder of VKontakte, on his 26th birthday, 10 October 2010\n\nVKontakte was conceived in 2006 when [Pavel Durov](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pavel_Durov \"Pavel Durov\"), creator of the popular student forum *spbgu.ru*, met his former classmate [Vyacheslav Mirilashvili](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yitzchak_Mirilashvili \"Yitzchak Mirilashvili\") in [St. Petersburg](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/St._Petersburg \"St. Petersburg\") after graduating from the Faculty of Philology at [St Petersburg State University](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Saint_Petersburg_State_University \"Saint Petersburg State University\"). Vyacheslav showed Durov the increasingly popular [Facebook](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Facebook \"Facebook\"), after which the friends decided to create a new Russian social network. [Lev Leviev](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lev_Binzumovich_Leviev \"Lev Binzumovich Leviev\"), an Israeli classmate of Vyacheslav Mirilashivili, became the third co-founder. Vyacheslav Mirilashvili borrowed the money from his billionaire [father](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mikhael_Mirilashvili \"Mikhael Mirilashvili\") and became the largest shareholder. Lev Leviev took over operational management, and Durov became CEO. Pavel Durov convinced his older brother [Nikolai](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nikolai_Durov \"Nikolai Durov\"), a multiple winner of international math and programming competitions, to develop the site.[\\[12\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-svoboda-12)[\\[13\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-koddurovaforbes-13)\n\nDurov launched VKontakte for beta testing in September 2006. The following month, the domain name *Vkontakte.ru* was registered.[\\[14\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-FOOTNOTEFriedrichsenM%C3%BChl-Benninghaus2013406-14) The new project was incorporated on 19 January 2007 as a Russian private limited company. In February 2007 the site reached a user base of over 100,000 and was recognized as the second largest company in Russia's nascent social network market. In the same month, the site was subjected to a severe [DDoS](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/DDoS \"DDoS\") attack, which briefly put it offline. The user base reached 1 million in July 2007, and 10 million in April 2008. In December 2008 VK overtook rival [Odnoklassniki](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Odnoklassniki \"Odnoklassniki\") as Russia's most popular social networking service.[\\[15\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-15)\n\n## Website\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=2 \"Edit section: Website\")\\]\n\n[![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/3\/36\/Vkontakte.png\/250px-Vkontakte.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Vkontakte.png)\n\nVK logo before 2015\n\nSimilar to many social networks, the platform's fundamental features revolve around private messaging, sharing photos, posting status updates, and exchanging links with friends. VK also provides tools for administering online communities and managing celebrity pages. The site allows its users to upload, search and stream media content, such as videos and music. VK features an advanced search engine, that allows complex queries for finding friends, as well as a real-time news search. VK updated its features and design in April 2016.[\\[16\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-16)\n\n### Features\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=3 \"Edit section: Features\")\\]\n\n- **Messaging**. VK Private Messages can be exchanged between groups of 2 to 500 people. An email address can also be specified as the recipient. Each message may contain up to 10 attachments: Photos, Videos, Audio Files, Maps (an embedded map with a manually placed marker), and Documents.[\\[17\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-17)\n- **News**. VK users can post on their profile walls, each post may contain up to 10 attachments – media files, maps, and documents (see above). User mentions and hashtags are supported. In the case of multiple photo attachments, the previews are automatically scaled and arranged in a magazine-style layout. The news feed can be switched between *all news* (default) and *most interesting* modes. The site features a news-recommendation engine, global real-time search, and individual search for posts and comments on specific users' walls.\n- **Communities**. VK features three types of communities. *Groups* are better suited for decentralized communities (discussion boards, wiki-style articles, editable by all members, etc.). *Public pages* is a news feed-orientated broadcasting tool for celebrities and businesses. The two types are largely interchangeable, the main difference being in the default settings. The third type of community is called *Events*, which are used for appropriately organizing concerts and events in an appropriate way.[\\[18\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-18)\n\n[![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/f\/fe\/%D0%9C%D0%BD%D0%B5_%D0%BD%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F.jpg\/250px-%D0%9C%D0%BD%D0%B5_%D0%BD%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F.jpg)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:%D0%9C%D0%BD%D0%B5_%D0%BD%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F.jpg)\n\nLike button on VK (Russian version)\n\n- **Like buttons**. VK like buttons for posts, comments, media, and external sites operate differently from Facebook. Liked content doesn't get automatically pushed to the user's wall, but is saved in the private Favorites section instead. The user has to press a second 'share with friends' button to share an item on their wall or send it via private message to a friend.\n- **Privacy**. Users can control the availability of their content within the network and on the Internet. Blanket and granular privacy settings are available for pages and individual content.\n- **Synchronization with other social networks**. Any news published on the VK wall will appear on Facebook or [Twitter](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Twitter \"Twitter\"). Certain news may not be published by clicking on the logo next to the \"Send\" button. Editing a post in VK does not change the post in Facebook or Twitter and vice versa. However, removing the news in VK will remove it from other social networks.\n- **SMS service**. Russian users can receive and reply to a private message or leave a comment for community news using SMS.\n- **Music.** Users have access to the audio files uploaded by other users. In addition, users can upload the audio files themselves, create playlists and share audios with others by attaching to messages and wall posts. The uploaded audio files cannot violate copyright laws.[\\[19\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-19)\n\n### Popularity\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=4 \"Edit section: Popularity\")\\]\n\nAs of May 2017, according to [Alexa Internet](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alexa_Internet \"Alexa Internet\") ranking, VK is one of the most visited websites in some Eurasian countries. It is:\n\n- 4th most visited in Russia;[\\[20\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-20)\n- 3rd most visited in [Belarus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Belarus \"Belarus\");[\\[21\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-21)\n- 6th most visited in [Kazakhstan](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kazakhstan \"Kazakhstan\");[\\[22\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-22)\n- 8th most visited in [Kyrgyzstan](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kyrgyzstan \"Kyrgyzstan\")[\\[23\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-23) and [Moldova](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Moldova \"Moldova\");[\\[24\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-24)\n- 12th most visited in [Latvia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Latvia \"Latvia\").[\\[25\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-25)\n\nIt was the fourth most viewed site in Ukraine until, in May 2017, the Ukrainian government banned the use of VK in Ukraine.[\\[26\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-UbRwM17-26) According to a study for May 2018 conducted by [Factum Group Ukraine](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Factum_Group_Ukraine&action=edit&redlink=1 \"Factum Group Ukraine (page does not exist)\") VK remained the fourth most viewed site in Ukraine, but [Facebook](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Facebook \"Facebook\") was twice as much visited.[\\[27\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-27) For 2019, VK appeared as the most visited social network in Ukraine according to Alexa.[\\[28\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-28) According to the [Internet Association of Ukraine](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ukrainian_Internet_Association \"Ukrainian Internet Association\") the share of Ukrainian Internet users who visit VK daily had fallen from 54% to 10% from September 2016 to September 2019.[\\[29\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-withoutVKontakte653664-29) They also claimed in November 2019 that Facebook was the most popular social network.[\\[29\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-withoutVKontakte653664-29)\n\nVK was expected to gain most of the users lost by [Facebook](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Facebook \"Facebook\") and [Instagram](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Instagram \"Instagram\") after they were blocked in Russia in 2022, according to a Calltouch poll.[\\[30\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-30)\n\n## Ownership\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=5 \"Edit section: Ownership\")\\]\n\n[![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/9\/9d\/%D0%94%D0%BE%D0%BC_%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B8_%22%D0%97%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B5%D1%80%22%2C_%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4_%D1%81_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE_%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F.jpg\/250px-%D0%94%D0%BE%D0%BC_%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B8_%22%D0%97%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B5%D1%80%22%2C_%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4_%D1%81_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE_%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F.jpg)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:%D0%94%D0%BE%D0%BC_%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B8_%22%D0%97%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B5%D1%80%22,_%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4_%D1%81_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE_%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F.jpg)\n\nThe headquarters of VK on the [Nevsky Avenue](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nevsky_Avenue \"Nevsky Avenue\") in [Saint Petersburg](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Saint_Petersburg \"Saint Petersburg\") ([Singer House](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Singer_House \"Singer House\"))\n\nInitially, founder and CEO [Pavel Durov](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pavel_Durov \"Pavel Durov\") owned 20% of shares (although he had majority voting power through proxy votes), and a trio of Russian-Israeli investors [Yitzchak Mirilashvili](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yitzchak_Mirilashvili \"Yitzchak Mirilashvili\"), his father [Mikhael Mirilashvili](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mikhael_Mirilashvili \"Mikhael Mirilashvili\"), and [Lev Leviev](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lev_Binzumovich_Leviev \"Lev Binzumovich Leviev\")[\\[31\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-31) owned 60%, 10%, and 10% respectively.[\\[32\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-owners-32)\n\nIn 2007, Digital Sky Technologies, an investment company managed by [Yuri Milner](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yuri_Milner \"Yuri Milner\"), acquired a total of 24.99% of the shares from shareholders, investing \\$16.3 million.[\\[13\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-koddurovaforbes-13) In preparation for the [IPO](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/IPO \"IPO\") in September 2010, DST separated international and Russian assets: the former formed the [DST Global](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/DST_Global \"DST Global\") fund, while the latter, including VKontakte and rival social network [Odnoklassniki](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Odnoklassniki \"Odnoklassniki\"), were merged into [Mail.ru Group](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mail.ru_Group \"Mail.ru Group\"). Mail.ru Group used part of the money to acquire 7.5% of the social network for \\$112.5 million at a valuation of the entire project of 1.5 billion dollars. After exercising a 7.5% option in July 2011 for \\$111.7 million, Mail.ru Group accumulated a 39.99% stake in VKontakte.[\\[33\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-teatrdurovaforbes-33)[\\[34\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-dstownsvk-34)[\\[35\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-35)\n\nThe head of Mail.ru Group, [Dmitry Grishin](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dmitry_Grishin \"Dmitry Grishin\"), voiced the company's intention to gain 100% control over VKontakte. MRG was discussing with shareholders to buy out shares from the valuation of the entire company in \\$2-3 billion. In the summer of 2011, Mirilashvili and Leviev were ready to accept in payment owned by Mail.ru Group shares of Facebook, [Groupon](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groupon \"Groupon\"), and [Zynga](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Zynga \"Zynga\"), but the deal failed due to Durov's unwillingness to sell a stake on MRG terms. Later, the co-founders considered VKontakte's IPO as an alternative. In March 2012, Durov \"accidentally\" became plugged into the negotiations where Mirilashvili and Leviev discussed selling their stakes directly to Mail.ru Group's main investor, [Alisher Usmanov](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alisher_Usmanov \"Alisher Usmanov\"). On the same day, Durov deleted the pages of the first co-investors, stopped contacting them, and soon announced that VKontakte would postpone its IPO indefinitely.[\\[33\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-teatrdurovaforbes-33)[\\[36\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-thebell-36)\n\nOn 29 May 2012, Mail.ru Group announced its decision to yield control of the company to Durov by offering him the voting rights on its shares. Combined with Durov's personal 12% stake, this gave him 52% of the votes.[\\[37\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-37)[\\[38\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-ipovotes-38)\n\nIn April 2013, the [Mirilashvili family](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mikhael_Mirilashvili \"Mikhael Mirilashvili\") sold its 40% share in VK to United Capital Partners for \\$1.12 billion,[\\[39\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-39)[\\[40\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-40) while [Lev Leviev](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lev_Binzumovich_Leviev \"Lev Binzumovich Leviev\") sold his 8% share in the same deal, giving United Capital Partners 48% ownership. In January 2014, VK's founder Pavel Durov sold his 12% stake in the company to [Ivan Tavrin](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ivan_Tavrin \"Ivan Tavrin\"), the CEO of [MegaFon](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/MegaFon \"MegaFon\"), which is controlled by [Alisher Usmanov](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alisher_Usmanov \"Alisher Usmanov\"). Following the deal, Usmanov and his allies controlled around 52% of the company.[\\[41\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-41) Shortly thereafter, the CEO of Megafon, sold his 12% stake to Mail.ru, thus allowing Mail.ru to consolidate its controlling stake of 52% in VK.[\\[42\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-42)\n\nOn 1 April 2014, Durov submitted his resignation to the board; at first, due to the fact the company confirmed he had resigned, it was believed to be related to the [Russo-Ukrainian War](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Russo-Ukrainian_War \"Russo-Ukrainian War\") which began in the previous February.[\\[43\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-April1-43) However, Durov himself claimed it was an April Fool's Joke on 3 April 2014.[\\[44\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-April2-44)[\\[45\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-45) On 21 April 2014, Durov was dismissed as CEO, claiming he failed to withdraw his letter of resignation a month earlier.[\\[46\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-DurovMT22414-46)[\\[47\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-DurovOutForGood-47) Durov then claimed the company had been effectively taken over by [Vladimir Putin](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vladimir_Putin \"Vladimir Putin\")'s political faction,[\\[46\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-DurovMT22414-46)[\\[48\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-DurovTI22414-48) suggesting his dismissal was the result of both his refusal to hand over personal details of users to federal law enforcement and his refusal to hand over the personal details of people who were members of a VKontakte group dedicated to the [Euromaidan](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Euromaidan \"Euromaidan\") protest movement.[\\[46\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-DurovMT22414-46)[\\[48\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-DurovTI22414-48) Durov then left Russia and stated that he had \"no plans to go back\"[\\[48\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-DurovTI22414-48) and that \"the country is incompatible with Internet business at the moment\".[\\[47\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-DurovOutForGood-47)\n\nOn 16 September 2014, the [Mail.ru](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mail.ru \"Mail.ru\") group bought the remaining 48% stake of VK from [United Capital Partners](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_Capital_Partners \"United Capital Partners\") (UCP)[\\[49\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-ft.com-49) for \\$1.5 billion,[\\[49\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-ft.com-49) thus becoming the sole proprietor of the social network.[\\[50\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-50)\n\nIn December 2021, Russian state-owned bank [Gazprombank](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gazprombank \"Gazprombank\") and insurance company [Sogaz](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sogaz \"Sogaz\") bought out 57.3% of VK shares, thus becoming the holders of the company's [controlling interest](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Controlling_interest \"Controlling interest\").[\\[51\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-51)[\\[52\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-52)\n\n## Controversies\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=6 \"Edit section: Controversies\")\\]\n\n### Copyright issues\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=7 \"Edit section: Copyright issues\")\\]\n\n#### Litigation\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=8 \"Edit section: Litigation\")\\]\n\nIn 2008, the TV channel [Russia-1](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Russia-1 \"Russia-1\") and its owner [VGTRK](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VGTRK \"VGTRK\") sued VK over unlicensed uploads of two of its films by VK users. In 2010, this dispute was settled by the [Russian High Arbitration Court](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/High_Court_of_Arbitration_of_Russia \"High Court of Arbitration of Russia\") in favour of the social network. The court ruled that VK is not responsible for its users’ copyright violations, taking into account that both parties agreed with the technical possibility to identify the user who posted illegal content and who, consequently, must incur the liability.[\\[53\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-53) Another ruling early in 2012 went partially in favor of [Gala Records (now Warner Music Russia)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Warner_Music_Group \"Warner Music Group\"), a recording studio, when the same court ordered VK to pay \\$7000 for not being active enough in regard to copyrighted materials.[\\[54\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-54)\n\n#### Efforts against copyright infringement\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=9 \"Edit section: Efforts against copyright infringement\")\\]\n\nVK offers a content removal tool for copyright holders.[\\[55\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-55)[\\[56\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-56) Large-scale copyright holders may gain access to bulk content removal tools.[\\[57\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-57)\n\nSince 2010, VK has also entered several partnerships with legal content providers such as television networks.[\\[58\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-58) and streaming providers.[\\[59\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-59) Most notably, the Video on Demand provider [Ivi.ru](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ivi.ru \"Ivi.ru\") that has secured licensing rights with all Hollywood majors in 2012.[\\[60\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-60) These partnerships allow providers to remove user-uploaded content from VK and substitute it with legal embedded copies from the provider's site.[\\[61\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-61) This legal content can be either ad-sponsored, subscription-based, or free, depending on the provider's choices. VK does not display its own advertising in the site's music or video sections, nor in the videos themselves. In October 2013, VKontakte was cleared of copyright infringement charges by a court in [Saint Petersburg](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Saint_Petersburg \"Saint Petersburg\"). The judge ruled that the social network is not responsible for the content uploaded by its users.[\\[62\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-62)\n\nIn November 2014, the head of the [Roskomnadzor](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Roskomnadzor \"Roskomnadzor\"), [Maxim Ksenzov](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Maxim_Ksenzov \"Maxim Ksenzov\"), said that VKontakte would complete the process of legalization of the content at the beginning of 2015. At that time (November 2014), negotiations between major label companies and the social network VKontakte were ongoing.[\\[63\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-63)\n\n### DDoS attacks on sites\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=10 \"Edit section: DDoS attacks on sites\")\\]\n\nBecause the social network is one of the most popular and visited sites in [runet](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Runet \"Runet\"), its visits can be used to make DDoS attacks on smaller sites. VK performed [DDOS attacks](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/DDOS_attack \"DDOS attack\") on certain sites, making users' browsers send multiple requests to the target site without their consent. The targets were the [Runet Prize](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Runet_Prize \"Runet Prize\") voting page in 2008[\\[64\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-64) and the [CAPTCHA](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/CAPTCHA \"CAPTCHA\")\\-solving service antigate.com in 2012.[\\[65\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-65)[\\[66\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-66) It was done by inserting an iframe and a piece of JavaScript code which periodically reloaded the iframe. As a countermeasure, antigate was detecting whether iframe was loaded from VK and if it were antigate had redirected request to [xHamster](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/XHamster \"XHamster\"), a [pornography website](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Internet_pornography \"Internet pornography\"). VK needed to cease the attack due to the site's use by children. VK tried to use [XMLHttpRequest](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/XMLHttpRequest \"XMLHttpRequest\") to solve this problem, but had forgotten about the [same-origin policy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Same-origin_policy \"Same-origin policy\"). They succeeded in stopping the attack, though there were many ways to solve the problem with redirect\\[*[original research?](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:No_original_research \"Wikipedia:No original research\")*\\].\n\n### Durov's dismissal\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=11 \"Edit section: Durov's dismissal\")\\]\n\nDurov was dismissed as CEO in April 2014 after he had failed to retract a letter of resignation. Durov contended that the resignation letter was an [April fools](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/April_fools \"April fools\") prank.[\\[46\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-DurovMT22414-46) Durov then claimed [Vladimir Putin's](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vladimir_Putin \"Vladimir Putin\") allies had, in effect, taken over the company,[\\[46\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-DurovMT22414-46)[\\[48\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-DurovTI22414-48)[\\[67\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-67) and suggested his ousting was the result of his refusal to hand over personal details of users to the [Russian Federal Security Service](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Russian_Federal_Security_Service \"Russian Federal Security Service\") and his refusal to shut down a VK group dedicated to anti-corruption activist [Alexei Navalny](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alexei_Navalny \"Alexei Navalny\").[\\[46\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-DurovMT22414-46)[\\[48\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-DurovTI22414-48)\n\n## Censorship\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=12 \"Edit section: Censorship\")\\]\n\nOn 24 May 2013, it was reported in the media that the site had been mistakenly put on a list of websites banned by the Russian government.[\\[68\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-68) Some critics have accused the blacklist as the latest in a series of suspicious incidents to have happened to the website in recent months as a way for the Russian government to increase their stake in, and control of the site.[\\[69\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-69)\n\nOn 18 November 2013, following an order from the Court of [Rome](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rome \"Rome\"), VK was blocked in [Italy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Italy \"Italy\") after a complaint from [Medusa Film](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Medusa_Film \"Medusa Film\") stating that it was hosting an illegal copy of one of its films.[\\[70\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-70) However, in April 2015, the site was reopened for Italian users and its mobile app is available on both the [App Store](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/App_Store_\$iOS\$ \"App Store (iOS)\") and [Google Play](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Google_Play \"Google Play\").\\[*[citation needed](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Citation_needed \"Wikipedia:Citation needed\")*\\]\n\nIn January 2016, [China](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/China \"China\") banned VKontakte, claiming that it was manipulating web content and cooperating with the Kremlin. According to Russia's [media watchdog](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Media_watchdog \"Media watchdog\"), the network estimates around 300,000 users based in China.[\\[71\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-71) As of 14 February 2018, China authorities unblocked VKontakte and it was fully accessible in the country.[\\[72\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-72)\n\nIn May 2017, Ukrainian President [Petro Poroshenko](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Petro_Poroshenko \"Petro Poroshenko\") signed a decree to impose a ban on Mail.ru and its widely used social networks including VKontakte and [Odnoklassniki](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Odnoklassniki \"Odnoklassniki\") as part of its continued sanctions on Russia for its [annexation of Crimea](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2014_Russian_annexation_of_Crimea \"2014 Russian annexation of Crimea\") and involvement in the [war in Donbas](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/War_in_Donbas \"War in Donbas\").[\\[26\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-UbRwM17-26)[\\[73\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-Poroshenko170515-73)[\\[74\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-UkraineSanctionsEntityList-74) [Reporters Without Borders](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Reporters_Without_Borders \"Reporters Without Borders\") condemned the ban, calling it a \"disproportionate measure that seriously undermines the Ukrainian people's right to information and freedom of expression.\"[\\[75\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-75) VK closed its office in Ukraine's capital [Kyiv](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kyiv \"Kyiv\") in June 2017.[\\[76\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-76)\n\nIn December 2021, VKontakte's CEO, Boris Dobrodeev resigned from his post. [Reuters](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Reuters \"Reuters\") linked Dobrodeev's resignation to the acquisition of VK's majority interest by two state-owned companies that happened the same month. According to one analyst, the state consolidation of VKontakte would cause greater censorship by the government.[\\[77\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-77)\n\nOn 12 May 2022, in connection with the sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU), NEPLP decided to limit the activity of \"VKontakte\" (\"vk.com\"), \"Odnoklassniki\" (\"ok.ru\") and \"Moy Mir\" (\"my.mail.ru\") social medias in [Latvia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Latvia \"Latvia\"). The decision was made because NEPLP has evidence that the platforms are owned and controlled by [Yury Kovalchuk](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yury_Kovalchuk \"Yury Kovalchuk\") and [Vladimir Kiriyenko](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vladimir_Kiriyenko \"Vladimir Kiriyenko\"). The mentioned persons are subject to EU sanctions in connection with undermining the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.[\\[78\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-78)\n\nAfter the [Russian military invasion of Ukraine](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2022_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine \"2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine\"), on 26 September 2022, the VK application (as well as other applications of the holding services) was removed from the Apple App Store due to [international sanctions](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/International_sanctions_during_the_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine \"International sanctions during the Russian invasion of Ukraine\").[\\[79\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-79)[\\[80\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-80) On 28 September, the Russian communications regulator [Roskomnadzor](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Roskomnadzor \"Roskomnadzor\") issued a statement demanding an explanation for the removal of the VK application from the App Store.[\\[81\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-81) CEO [Vladimir Kiriyenko](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vladimir_Kiriyenko \"Vladimir Kiriyenko\") was sanctioned by the United States, India, Canada, United Kingdom, European Union, Japan, Australia and various countries.[\\[82\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-82)\n\n## Prosecution of users in Russia\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=13 \"Edit section: Prosecution of users in Russia\")\\]\n\nIn July 2012, VKontakte was accused of close cooperation with the [Centre for Combating Extremism (Centre E)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Centre_for_Combating_Extremism \"Centre for Combating Extremism\"), a unit within the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs heavily criticized for repressing opposition activists.[\\[83\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-83)[\\[84\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-84) For publications, reposts, comments and [likes](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Like_button \"Like button\") posted on their VKontakte pages, dozens of Russian citizens were sentenced to fines, suspended sentences and imprisonment. Most of the cases against users are qualified as propaganda of extremism, xenophobia and Nazism. Statistically, among all the social networking services available in Russia, the users of VKontakte were targeted by police almost exclusively.[\\[85\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-85)[\\[86\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-86)\n\n## Events and projects\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=14 \"Edit section: Events and projects\")\\]\n\n### Automated workplace of a civil servant\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=15 \"Edit section: Automated workplace of a civil servant\")\\]\n\nBy 2023, on the basis of VK, the “Automated workplace of a civil servant” (АРМ ГС in Russian) was developed, to which it is planned to transfer all Russian civil servants. AWP includes mail, calendar, cloud storage, instant messenger, supports audio and video calls. It should replace Telegram, WhatsApp, Gmail, Google Docs, Zoom and Skype widely used in Russia. Thus, the Russian government intends to exclude foreign services from the public administration system. Officials were supposed to switch to \"Automated workplace\" from May 1, 2023. [\\[87\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-87)\n\nIn June 2023, the [Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ministry_of_Digital_Development,_Communications_and_Mass_Media \"Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media\") announced a competition for software developers to \"scale\" the workspace and provide the necessary level of cryptographic protection. It is planned to spend 9 million rubles on the project.[\\[88\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-88)\n\n### Hackathons\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=16 \"Edit section: Hackathons\")\\]\n\nVK organized their first 24-hour [Hackathon](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hackathon \"Hackathon\") in 2015 from 31 October to 1 November. The participants were invited to develop projects united by a common idea: “Make it Simple!” (Russian: «Упрощайте!»). 34 teams took part in the competition. A prize pool of 300 thousand rubles was split among the winners.[\\[89\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-89)\n\nThe second VK Hackathon took place from 26 to 27 November 2016. The participants developed projects for the community app platform. The “Search for Lost Cats” (Russian: «Поиск пропавших котиков») app won the “Developers’ Choice” category. The prize pool for the event was 300 thousand rubles.[\\[90\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-90)\n\nThe third VK Hackathon took place from 20 to 22 October 2017 with 320 participants competing in the event. The prize pool was one million rubles. An application designed to help users navigate the [State Hermitage Museum](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/State_Hermitage_Museum \"State Hermitage Museum\") won the “Culture” category.[\\[91\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-91)\n\n### Start Fellows\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=17 \"Edit section: Start Fellows\")\\]\n\nIn 2011, Pavel Durov and [Yuri Milner](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yuri_Milner \"Yuri Milner\") created Start Fellows, a grant program founded to support projects in the field of technology.[\\[92\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-92) In 2014, VK took over the Start Fellows program and made it more systematic. The grant was provided to 3 companies each month and included project consultation from VK along with 25 thousand rubles a month for advertisement on the VK platform. Winners of the grant include “University Schedules” (Russian: «Расписание вузов»), a scheduling app, LiveCamDroid, a mobile streaming service, HTML Academy, an educational project, and others.[\\[93\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-93)[\\[94\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-94)[\\[95\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-95)[\\[96\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-96)\n\nVK re-launched the project in 2017. Only active projects with an earnings model could submit applications. 327 grant applications were received but only 67 of them passed the initial screening. The total prize pool was 2.5 million rubles.[\\[97\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-97)\n\n### VK Cup\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=18 \"Edit section: VK Cup\")\\]\n\nThe first VK Cup, a programming championship for young programmers aged 13–23, was held on 16 July 2012 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.[\\[98\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-98)\n\nVK and [Codeforces](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Codeforces \"Codeforces\") co-organized the second VK Cup programming championship, which took place from 24 to 27 July 2015. The winners received a total of 1,048,576 or 220 rubles (an amount related to round binary numbers).[\\[99\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-99)\n\nThe third VK Cup took place from 1 to 4 July 2016 and had a prize pool of 2.5 million rubles.[\\[100\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-100)\n\nVK and Codeforces co-organized the fourth VK Cup which took place from 8 to 9 July 2017. Teams from 52 countries applied to take part in the competition. The prize pool for the competition was 2.5 million rubles.[\\[101\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-101)\n\n### VK Music Awards\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=19 \"Edit section: VK Music Awards\")\\]\n\nThe first VK Music Awards ceremony took place on 25 December 2017. The VK Music Awards were produced by [Timur Bekmambetov](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Timur_Bekmambetov \"Timur Bekmambetov\") and the [Bazelevs Company](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bazelevs_Company \"Bazelevs Company\") with [Pavel Volya](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pavel_Volya \"Pavel Volya\") hosting the event.[\\[102\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-intermedia.ru-102) The awards ceremony was held in the form of an online live stream.[\\[103\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-103) Any VK user could watch the broadcast live. After the ceremony, a private concert was held in the [Vegas City Hall](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Crocus_City_Hall \"Crocus City Hall\") in Moscow. Tickets to the event could be won through a contest held in the VK Music community.[\\[102\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-intermedia.ru-102) VK Music Awards winners were determined by the number of plays an artist's song got on VK and the BOOM app. The names of the 30 award winners were published on the official VK Music Awards community page and on the BOOM app website. “Rosé Wine” ([Allj](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Eldzhey \"Eldzhey\") and [Feduk](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Feduk \"Feduk\")), “Lambada” ([T-Fest](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/T-Fest \"T-Fest\") and [Scriptonite](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Scriptonite \"Scriptonite\")), and “My Half” ([MiyaGi and Endspiel](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=MiyaGi_and_Endspiel&action=edit&redlink=1 \"MiyaGi and Endspiel (page does not exist)\") \\[[ru](https:\/\/ru.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/T-MiyaGi_%26_Andy_Panda \"ru:T-MiyaGi & Andy Panda\")\\]) topped the list of most listened to songs. The official pages of all award winners have been marked with a special symbol.[\\[104\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-104)\n\n### VK Fest\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=20 \"Edit section: VK Fest\")\\]\n\nSince 2015, VK has held a yearly 2-day open-air music and entertainment festival. This festival traditionally takes place on a weekend in July at the [300th Anniversary Park](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=300th_Anniversary_Park&action=edit&redlink=1 \"300th Anniversary Park (page does not exist)\") \\[[ru](https:\/\/ru.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%9F%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BA_%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8_300-%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%8F_%D0%A1%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BA%D1%82-%D0%9F%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B1%D1%83%D1%80%D0%B3%D0%B0 \"ru:Парк имени 300-летия Санкт-Петербурга\")\\] (Russian: Парк имени 300-летия Санкт-Петербурга) in St. Petersburg, Russia. According to data from the organizer, 70 thousand people attended the festival in 2016, with the number rising to 85 thousand attendees in 2017. In 2017, around 40 artists and groups performed on 3 stages, including [Little Big](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Little_Big_\$band\$ \"Little Big (band)\"), [The Hatters](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Hatters_\$band\$ \"The Hatters (band)\"), and others. Bloggers and other famous individuals, such as [Dmitry Grishin](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dmitry_Grishin \"Dmitry Grishin\"), [Timur Bekmambetov](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Timur_Bekmambetov \"Timur Bekmambetov\"), and [Mikhail Piotrovsky](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mikhail_Piotrovsky \"Mikhail Piotrovsky\") (speakers at the 2017 festival), are also an important part of the festival. More than 1.5 million people watched the festival's official live stream.[\\[105\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-105)\n\n## See also\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=21 \"Edit section: See also\")\\]\n\n- ![flag](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/f\/f3\/Flag_of_Russia.svg\/40px-Flag_of_Russia.svg.png)[Russia portal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Portal:Russia \"Portal:Russia\")\n- [![icon](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/f\/f9\/Crystal_Clear_app_linneighborhood.svg\/40px-Crystal_Clear_app_linneighborhood.svg.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Crystal_Clear_app_linneighborhood.svg)[Internet portal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Portal:Internet \"Portal:Internet\")\n\n- [Ambient awareness](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ambient_awareness \"Ambient awareness\")\n- [Cyworld](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cyworld \"Cyworld\")\n- [Facebook](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Facebook \"Facebook\")\n- [Internet in Russia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Internet_in_Russia \"Internet in Russia\")\n- [Myspace](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Myspace \"Myspace\")\n- [Qzone](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Qzone \"Qzone\")\n- [List of social networking websites](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_social_networking_websites \"List of social networking websites\")\n\n## References\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=22 \"Edit section: References\")\\]\n\n1. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-1)**\n   [\"Mail.ru Group Financial Statements 2016\"](https:\/\/corp.imgsmail.ru\/media\/files\/mail.rugrouparfy2016.pdf) (PDF). *Mail.ru*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20170708183906\/https:\/\/corp.imgsmail.ru\/media\/files\/mail.rugrouparfy2016.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 8 July 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017.\n2. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-2)**\n   [\"Во «ВКонтакте» появилась возможность редактировать отправленные сообщения\"](https:\/\/www.rbc.ru\/rbcfreenews\/5a1c084a9a794766e39a13ca). *rbc.ru*. [RBK Group](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/RBK_Group \"RBK Group\"). 27 November 2017. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20230709084550\/https:\/\/www.rbc.ru\/rbcfreenews\/5a1c084a9a794766e39a13ca) from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.\n3. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-3)**\n   [\"Social gaming: revenue in Russia 2010-2013 \\| Statistic\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20190821130139\/https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/205549\/social-gaming-revenue-forecast-in-russia\/). [Statista.com](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Statista.com \"Statista.com\"). Archived from [the original](https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/205549\/social-gaming-revenue-forecast-in-russia\/) on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2015.\n4. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-usercount_4-0)**\n   [\"List of VK users\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20200301164053\/https:\/\/vk.com\/catalog.php). Vk.com. Archived from [the original](http:\/\/vk.com\/catalog.php) on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2018.\n5. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-5)**\n   [\"Russia's Top Websites Ranking in November 2022 \\| Similarweb\"](https:\/\/www.similarweb.com\/top-websites\/russian-federation\/). *[Similarweb](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Similarweb \"Similarweb\")*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20220316054316\/https:\/\/www.similarweb.com\/top-websites\/russian-federation\/) from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.\n6. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-6)**\n   [\"Рада підтримала продовження заборони на російські соцмережі\"](https:\/\/www.rbc.ua\/ukr\/news\/rada-odobrila-prodlenie-zapreta-rossiyskie-1589387984.html). [RBC-Ukraine](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/RBC-Ukraine \"RBC-Ukraine\"). [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20210725072010\/https:\/\/www.rbc.ua\/ukr\/news\/rada-odobrila-prodlenie-zapreta-rossiyskie-1589387984.html) from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021.\n7. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-7)**\n   [\"Website Ranking\"](https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/trending-websites\/global\/all). [Semrush](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Semrush \"Semrush\"). [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20231219181830\/https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/trending-websites\/global\/all) from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2024.\n8. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-8)**\n   [\"The Kremlin's war on streaming: How Russia is moving to block YouTube and why its efforts may bring down the entire Runet\"](https:\/\/theins.ru\/en\/society\/273838). *The Insider* (in Russian). Retrieved 3 March 2025.\n9. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-9)**\n   Times, The Moscow (15 January 2025). [\"VKontakte Overtakes YouTube in Web Traffic for First Time in Russia\"](https:\/\/www.themoscowtimes.com\/2025\/01\/15\/vkontakte-overtakes-youtube-in-web-traffic-for-first-time-in-russia-a87616). *[The Moscow Times](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Moscow_Times \"The Moscow Times\")*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20250206220341\/https:\/\/www.themoscowtimes.com\/2025\/01\/15\/vkontakte-overtakes-youtube-in-web-traffic-for-first-time-in-russia-a87616) from the original on 6 February 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2025.\n10. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-10)**\n    Gutelle, Sam (15 January 2025). [\"Russia made it harder for citizens to watch YouTube. They're going to VKontakte instead\"](https:\/\/www.tubefilter.com\/2025\/01\/15\/russia-youtube-throttle-vkontakte-user-rise\/). *Tubefilter*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20250210231210\/https:\/\/www.tubefilter.com\/2025\/01\/15\/russia-youtube-throttle-vkontakte-user-rise\/) from the original on 10 February 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2025.\n11. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-11)**\n    Vlasova, Olga (2 October 2024). [\"Why are Russians struggling to access YouTube?\"](https:\/\/theloop.ecpr.eu\/why-are-russians-struggling-to-access-youtube\/). *The Loop*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20250403202948\/https:\/\/theloop.ecpr.eu\/why-are-russians-struggling-to-access-youtube\/) from the original on 3 April 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2025.\n12. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-svoboda_12-0)**\n    [Andrei Loshak](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Andrei_Loshak \"Andrei Loshak\") (16 October 2019). [\"История рунета. Бизнес: ОК, ВК и все-все-все\"](https:\/\/www.svoboda.org\/a\/30219424.html). *Радио Свобода* (in Russian). [Radio Free Europe\/Radio Liberty](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Radio_Free_Europe\/Radio_Liberty \"Radio Free Europe\/Radio Liberty\"). [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20240827080518\/https:\/\/www.svoboda.org\/a\/30219424.html) from the original on 27 August 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.\n13. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-koddurovaforbes_13-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-koddurovaforbes_13-1)\n    [\"Код Павла Дурова\"](https:\/\/www.forbes.ru\/ekonomika\/kompanii\/69666-kod-pavla-durova). *[Forbes](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Forbes \"Forbes\")* (in Russian). 24 June 2011. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20110627041221\/https:\/\/www.forbes.ru\/ekonomika\/kompanii\/69666-kod-pavla-durova) from the original on 27 June 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2024.\n14. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFriedrichsenM%C3%BChl-Benninghaus2013406_14-0)** [Friedrichsen & Mühl-Benninghaus 2013](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#CITEREFFriedrichsenM%C3%BChl-Benninghaus2013), p. 406.\n15. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-15)**\n    [\"Vkontakte Remains more popular than Facebook in Russia\"](http:\/\/www.mynewsdesk.com\/fi\/blog_posts\/vkontakte-remains-more-popular-than-facebook-in-russia-26403). *Mynewsdesk*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20180807220706\/http:\/\/www.mynewsdesk.com\/fi\/blog_posts\/vkontakte-remains-more-popular-than-facebook-in-russia-26403) from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.\n16. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-16)**\n    [\"VK.com New Interface, Design, Looks & Tips\"](http:\/\/www.mbgadget.com\/2016\/08\/vkcom-new-interface.html). [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20160918163711\/http:\/\/www.mbgadget.com\/2016\/08\/vkcom-new-interface.html) from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2016.\n17. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-17)** Supported are the formats: doc, docx, xls, xlsx, ppt, pptx, rtf, pdf, png, jpg, gif, psd, mp3, djvu, fb2, ps and archives containing these formats. Executable files and files over 200 Mb are not allowed. Video chat is also available (for users who allow incoming calls) since 2012.\n18. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-18)**\n    [\"Types of community pages\"](https:\/\/vk.com\/pages?oid=-59800369&p=%D0%92%D1%8B%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%80_%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B0_%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%89%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B0). *vk.com*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20200317235028\/https:\/\/vk.com\/pages?oid=-59800369&p=%D0%92%D1%8B%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%80_%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B0_%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%89%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B0) from the original on 17 March 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2018.\n19. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-19)**\n    [\"Vkontakte Music 2.0\"](https:\/\/vk.com\/blog\/vkmusic). *vk.com*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20170508111607\/https:\/\/vk.com\/blog\/vkmusic) from the original on 8 May 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2018.\n20. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-20)**\n    [\"Alexa - top sites in Russia\"](https:\/\/www.alexa.com\/topsites\/countries\/RU). Alexa.com. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20090403051929\/https:\/\/www.alexa.com\/topsites\/countries\/RU) from the original on 3 April 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2017.\n21. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-21)**\n    [\"Alexa - top sites in Belarus\"](https:\/\/www.alexa.com\/topsites\/countries\/BY). Alexa.com. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20090403040639\/https:\/\/www.alexa.com\/topsites\/countries\/BY) from the original on 3 April 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2017.\n22. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-22)**\n    [\"Alexa - top sites in Kazakhstan\"](https:\/\/www.alexa.com\/topsites\/countries\/KZ). Alexa.com. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20090403041732\/https:\/\/www.alexa.com\/topsites\/countries\/KZ) from the original on 3 April 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2017.\n23. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-23)**\n    [\"Alexa - top sites in Kyrgyzstan\"](https:\/\/www.alexa.com\/topsites\/countries\/KG). Alexa.com. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20090403041632\/https:\/\/www.alexa.com\/topsites\/countries\/KG) from the original on 3 April 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2017.\n24. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-24)**\n    [\"Alexa - top sites in Moldova\"](https:\/\/www.alexa.com\/topsites\/countries\/MD). Alexa.com. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20090403042044\/https:\/\/www.alexa.com\/topsites\/countries\/MD) from the original on 3 April 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2017.\n25. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-25)**\n    [\"Alexa - top sites in Latvia\"](https:\/\/www.alexa.com\/topsites\/countries\/LV). Alexa.com. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20090403030721\/https:\/\/www.alexa.com\/topsites\/countries\/LV) from the original on 3 April 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2017.\n26. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-UbRwM17_26-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-UbRwM17_26-1)\n    [\"Ukraine's Poroshenko to block Russian social networks\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20210109061726\/https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-europe-39934666). *[BBC News](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/BBC_News \"BBC News\")*. 16 May 2017. Archived from [the original](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-europe-39934666) on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2018.\n27. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-27)**\n    [\"Banned VK social network remains fourth in Internet traffic in Ukraine in May\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20201130004557\/https:\/\/en.interfax.com.ua\/news\/general\/511662.html). *[Interfax-Ukraine](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Interfax-Ukraine \"Interfax-Ukraine\")*. 13 June 2018. Archived from [the original](https:\/\/en.interfax.com.ua\/news\/general\/511662.html) on 30 November 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2018.\n28. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-28)**\n    [\"Alexa - top sites in Ukraine\"](https:\/\/www.alexa.com\/topsites\/countries\/UA). Alexa.com. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20090403052252\/https:\/\/www.alexa.com\/topsites\/countries\/UA) from the original on 3 April 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2019.\n29. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-withoutVKontakte653664_29-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-withoutVKontakte653664_29-1)\n    [\"Three years without VKontakte: what social networks do Ukrainians prefer\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20191114085918\/https:\/\/www.epravda.com.ua\/publications\/2019\/11\/14\/653664\/). *[Ukrayinska Pravda](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ukrayinska_Pravda \"Ukrayinska Pravda\")* (in Ukrainian). 14 November 2019. Archived from [the original](https:\/\/www.epravda.com.ua\/publications\/2019\/11\/14\/653664\/) on 14 November 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019.\n30. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-30)**\n    [\"Rossiyskaya Gazeta: Most Russians ready to move to domestic social media platforms\"](https:\/\/rg.ru\/2022\/03\/23\/bolshinstvo-rossiian-gotovy-perejti-v-otechestvennye-socseti.html). *Rossiyskaya Gazeta*. 24 March 2022. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20220420222757\/https:\/\/rg.ru\/2022\/03\/23\/bolshinstvo-rossiian-gotovy-perejti-v-otechestvennye-socseti.html) from the original on 20 April 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.\n31. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-31)**\n    [\"Lev Leviev sells Russian social network stake\"](http:\/\/www.globes.co.il\/serveen\/globes\/docview.asp?did=1000837139&fid=1725). Globes. 18 April 2013. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20130706172334\/http:\/\/www.globes.co.il\/serveen\/globes\/docview.asp?did=1000837139&fid=1725) from the original on 6 July 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013.\n32. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-owners_32-0)**\n    [Кто в контакте](http:\/\/www.vedomosti.ru\/newspaper\/article\/142644\/)\n    \n    (in Russian). Vedomosti. 29 February 2008. Retrieved 16 April 2011.\n33. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-teatrdurovaforbes_33-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-teatrdurovaforbes_33-1)\n    [\"Театр Дурова: почему основатель «ВКонтакте» проиграл битву за социальную сеть\"](https:\/\/www.forbes.ru\/kompanii\/internet-telekom-i-media\/252431-teatr-durova-pochemu-osnovatel-vkontakte-proigral-bitvu-za). *[Forbes](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Forbes \"Forbes\")* (in Russian). 20 March 2014. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20240207235214\/https:\/\/www.forbes.ru\/kompanii\/internet-telekom-i-media\/252431-teatr-durova-pochemu-osnovatel-vkontakte-proigral-bitvu-za) from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.\n34. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-dstownsvk_34-0)**\n    [\"Exercise of Option\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20111006195703\/http:\/\/corp.mail.ru\/en\/IR\/news\/1125). Mail.ru Group. 14 July 2011. Archived from [the original](http:\/\/corp.mail.ru\/en\/IR\/news\/1125) on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2011.\n35. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-35)**\n    [\"Vkontakte.ru shareholder structure unveiled\"](http:\/\/www.ewdn.com\/2011\/08\/06\/vkontakte-ru-shareholder-structure-unveiled). East-West Digital News. 6 August 2011. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20110927181126\/http:\/\/www.ewdn.com\/2011\/08\/06\/vkontakte-ru-shareholder-structure-unveiled) from the original on 27 September 2011. 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Retrieved 9 March 2018.\n73. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-Poroshenko170515_73-0)**\n    [Poroshenko, Petro](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Petro_Poroshenko \"Petro Poroshenko\") (15 May 2017). [\"УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №133\/2017: Про рішення Ради національної безпеки і оборони України від 28 квітня 2017 року \"Про застосування персональних спеціальних економічних та інших обмежувальних заходів (санкцій)\"\"](https:\/\/www.president.gov.ua\/documents\/1332017-21850) \\[DECREE OF THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE №133 \/ 2017: On the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine dated April 28, 2017 \"On the application of personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions)\"\\]. *Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України* (in Ukrainian). President of Ukraine. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20170516110305\/https:\/\/www.president.gov.ua\/documents\/1332017-21850) from the original on 16 May 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2018.\n74. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-UkraineSanctionsEntityList_74-0)**\n    [\"Додаток 2 до рішення Ради національної безпеки і оборони України від \"28\" квітня 2017 року \"Про застосування персональних спеціальних економічних та інших обмежувальних заходів (санкцій)\" ЮРИДИЧНІ ОСОБИ, до яких застосовуються обмежувальні заходи (санкції)\"](https:\/\/www.president.gov.ua\/storage\/j-files-storage\/00\/40\/38\/6f76b8df9d0716da74bb4ae6a900d483_1494964345.pdf) \\[Annex 2 to the Decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine dated April 28, 2017 \"On the Application of Personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions) \"Legal Entities under Restrictive Measures (Sanctions)\"\\] (PDF) (in Ukrainian). President of Ukraine. 28 April 2017. p. 185-6 (\\#422 mail.ru Group), 186-7 (\\#423 ТОВ «Вконтакте» (VKontakte)), 187-8 (\\#424 ТОВ «В Контакті» (In Kontakte)) & 189 (\\#425 mail.ru Ukraine). This is a prohibition of Internet Service Providers (ISP) to provide access to the internet service «Mail.ru» (www.mail.ru) and social-oriented resources «Vkontakte» (www.vk.com) and «Odnoklassniki» (www. ok). [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20170518165930\/https:\/\/www.president.gov.ua\/storage\/j-files-storage\/00\/40\/38\/6f76b8df9d0716da74bb4ae6a900d483_1494964345.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 18 May 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2018.\n75. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-75)**\n    [\"rsf-urges-ukraine-scrap-ban-russian-social-media-sites\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20170708022541\/https:\/\/rsf.org\/en\/news\/rsf-urges-ukraine-scrap-ban-russian-social-media-sites). *RSF*. 23 May 2017. Archived from [the original](https:\/\/rsf.org\/en\/news\/rsf-urges-ukraine-scrap-ban-russian-social-media-sites) on 8 July 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2017.\n76. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-76)**\n    [\"Russia's VKontakte closes office in Kyiv\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20210205135439\/https:\/\/www.unian.info\/society\/1981121-russias-vkontakte-closes-office-in-kyiv.html). *[UNIAN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/UNIAN \"UNIAN\")*. 17 June 2017. Archived from [the original](https:\/\/www.unian.info\/society\/1981121-russias-vkontakte-closes-office-in-kyiv.html) on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2017.\n77. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-77)**\n    Alexander Marrow (3 December 2021). [\"CEO of Russia's VK resigns as state assumes control of internet firm\"](https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/russia-vk-idCNL8N2SO3IY). Reuters. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20220414162948\/https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/russia-vk-idCNL8N2SO3IY) from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.\n78. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-78)**\n    [\"Latvijā bloķēs sociālos tīklus \"Vkontakte\" un \"Odnoklassniki\"\"](https:\/\/www.lsm.lv\/raksts\/zinas\/latvija\/latvija-blokes-socialos-tiklus-vkontakte-un-odnoklassniki.a456464\/). *[Lsm.lv](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lsm.lv \"Lsm.lv\")*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20220512114525\/https:\/\/www.lsm.lv\/raksts\/zinas\/latvija\/latvija-blokes-socialos-tiklus-vkontakte-un-odnoklassniki.a456464\/) from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.\n79. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-79)**\n    [\"Apple Removes Russian VK Apps From App Store in Response to UK Sanctions\"](https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/2022\/09\/28\/apple-removes-vk-app-store-russian-sanctions\/). *[MacRumors](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/MacRumors \"MacRumors\")*. 28 September 2022. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20221205055803\/https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/2022\/09\/28\/apple-removes-vk-app-store-russian-sanctions\/) from the original on 5 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.\n80. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-80)**\n    [\"Приложение VK пропало из App Store\"](https:\/\/www.rbc.ru\/politics\/26\/09\/2022\/6331f8cd9a7947f92f1770b2). *rbc.ru* (in Russian). 26 September 2022. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20220927023948\/https:\/\/www.rbc.ru\/politics\/26\/09\/2022\/6331f8cd9a7947f92f1770b2) from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.\n81. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-81)**\n    [\"Russia demands Apple explain after VK apps removed from App Store\"](https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/technology\/russia-demands-apple-explain-after-vk-removed-app-store-2022-09-28\/). *Reuters*. 28 September 2022. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20220928121451\/https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/technology\/russia-demands-apple-explain-after-vk-removed-app-store-2022-09-28\/) from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.\n82. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-82)**\n    Faife, Corin (26 February 2022). [\"The US has sanctioned the head of Russia's largest social network\"](https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2022\/2\/26\/22951307\/us-sanctions-russia-vk-ceo-vladimir-kiriyenko). *The Verge*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20230104131617\/https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2022\/2\/26\/22951307\/us-sanctions-russia-vk-ceo-vladimir-kiriyenko) from the original on 4 January 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2022.\n83. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-83)**\n    [\"How the Kremlin Infiltrated Russia's Facebook\"](https:\/\/www.wired.co.uk\/article\/vk-russia-democracy). *Wired UK*. [ISSN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISSN_\$identifier\$ \"ISSN (identifier)\") [1357-0978](https:\/\/search.worldcat.org\/issn\/1357-0978). [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20220729082829\/https:\/\/www.wired.co.uk\/article\/vk-russia-democracy) from the original on 29 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.\n84. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-84)**\n    [\"The dark doings of Russia's Centre E\"](https:\/\/www.opendemocracy.net\/en\/odr\/dark-doings-of-russias-centre-e\/). *openDemocracy*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20230122152809\/https:\/\/www.opendemocracy.net\/en\/odr\/dark-doings-of-russias-centre-e\/) from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2022.\n85. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-85)**\n    [\"2016-07-07 In 'kontakt' with the cops When Russian police go after Internet users, why do they target people on VKontakte almost exclusively?\"](https:\/\/meduza.io\/en\/feature\/2016\/07\/07\/in-kontakt-with-the-cops). *Meduza*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20220729082829\/https:\/\/meduza.io\/en\/feature\/2016\/07\/07\/in-kontakt-with-the-cops) from the original on 29 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.\n86. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-86)**\n    [\"How the Kremlin Infiltrated Russia's Facebook\"](https:\/\/www.wired.co.uk\/article\/vk-russia-democracy). *Wired UK*. [ISSN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISSN_\$identifier\$ \"ISSN (identifier)\") [1357-0978](https:\/\/search.worldcat.org\/issn\/1357-0978). [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20220729082829\/https:\/\/www.wired.co.uk\/article\/vk-russia-democracy) from the original on 29 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.\n87. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-87)**\n    [\"Госслужащим поручили перейти на мессенджер от VK до конца апреля\"](https:\/\/www.sostav.ru\/publication\/gossluzhashchim-poruchili-perejti-na-messendzher-ot-vk-do-kontsa-aprelya-59317.html). *Sostav.ru* (in Russian). 7 March 2023. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20230629121410\/https:\/\/www.sostav.ru\/publication\/gossluzhashchim-poruchili-perejti-na-messendzher-ot-vk-do-kontsa-aprelya-59317.html) from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.\n88. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-88)**\n    [\"У российских чиновников появится свой мессенджер почти за 1 млрд рублей\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20240829084211\/https:\/\/www.banki.ru\/news\/lenta\/?id=10987700). *Banki.ru*. 28 June 2023. Archived from [the original](https:\/\/www.banki.ru\/news\/lenta\/?id=10987700) on 29 August 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2023.\n89. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-89)**\n    Kontsarenko, Philipp (2 November 2015). [\"Фоторепортаж: Первый хакатон \"ВКонтакте\" — Соцсети на vc.ru\"](https:\/\/vc.ru\/social\/11462-vk-hackaton-fin). *vc.ru*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20181112223442\/https:\/\/vc.ru\/social\/11462-vk-hackaton-fin) from the original on 12 November 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.\n90. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-90)**\n    [\"\"Поиск пропавших котиков\": приложение, которое ищет потерявшихся животных с помощью нейросетей — Meduza\"](https:\/\/meduza.io\/shapito\/2016\/11\/28\/poisk-propavshih-kotikov-prilozhenie-kotoroe-ischet-poteryavshihsya-zhivotnyh-s-pomoschyu-neyrosetey). *Meduza* (in Russian). [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20181204125344\/https:\/\/meduza.io\/shapito\/2016\/11\/28\/poisk-propavshih-kotikov-prilozhenie-kotoroe-ischet-poteryavshihsya-zhivotnyh-s-pomoschyu-neyrosetey) from the original on 4 December 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.\n91. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-91)**\n    [\"На Хакатоне \"ВКонтакте\" победили авторы приложения, помогающего выбрать маршрут в Эрмитаже\"](https:\/\/paperpaper.ru\/papernews\/2017\/10\/23\/hackathon\/). *«Бумага»* (in Russian). 23 October 2017. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20181204130031\/https:\/\/paperpaper.ru\/papernews\/2017\/10\/23\/hackathon\/) from the original on 4 December 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.\n92. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-92)**\n    Madhumita Venkataramanan (15 August 2012). [\"Europe's 100 hottest startups 2012: Moscow\"](https:\/\/www.wired.co.uk\/article\/moscow). Wired. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20170414000854\/http:\/\/www.wired.co.uk\/article\/moscow) from the original on 14 April 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2022.\n93. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-93)**\n    Константин Панфилов (21 August 2014). [\"Победителем конкурса стартапов Start Fellows стал мобильный сервис видеостриминга LiveCamDroid\"](https:\/\/vc.ru\/social\/4758-sf-final-aug?ysclid=l1z8qtexlb) (in Russian). VC.ru. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20220809202134\/https:\/\/vc.ru\/social\/4758-sf-final-aug?ysclid=l1z8qtexlb) from the original on 9 August 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.\n94. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-94)**\n    Константин Панфилов (16 October 2014). [\"Победителями конкурса стартапов Start Fellows от \"ВКонтакте\" стали HTML Academy и \"Попутчик\"\"](https:\/\/vc.ru\/social\/5376-sf-final-sep?ysclid=l1z8rfa155) (in Russian). VC.ru. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20220414165939\/https:\/\/vc.ru\/social\/5376-sf-final-sep?ysclid=l1z8rfa155) from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.\n95. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-95)**\n    [\"\"ВКонтакте\" назвала нового получателя гранта Start Fellows\"](https:\/\/www.the-village.ru\/business\/news\/160161-start-fellows?ysclid=l1z8pfp22g) (in Russian). The Village. 15 July 2014. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20220414165937\/https:\/\/www.the-village.ru\/business\/news\/160161-start-fellows?ysclid=l1z8pfp22g) from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.\n96. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-96)**\n    [\"Пробуждение с гарантией\"](https:\/\/www.kommersant.ru\/doc\/3368135) (in Russian). Kommersant. 11 June 2019. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20220414165940\/https:\/\/www.kommersant.ru\/doc\/3368135) from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.\n97. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-97)**\n    [\"Победители Start Fellows получили 2,5 млн рублей от ВКонтакте\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20180618175253\/https:\/\/www.ferra.ru\/ru\/techlife\/news\/2017\/12\/04\/vk-start-fellows-2017\/). Archived from [the original](https:\/\/www.ferra.ru\/ru\/techlife\/news\/2017\/12\/04\/vk-start-fellows-2017\/) on 18 June 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.\n98. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-98)**\n    [\"\"ВКонтакте\" назвали победителей VK Cup\"](https:\/\/tass.ru\/ekonomika\/9895089) (in Russian). Tass. 2 November 2020. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20220414170518\/https:\/\/tass.ru\/ekonomika\/9895089) from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.\n99. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-99)**\n    vc.ru, Редакция (27 July 2015). [\"Фоторепортаж: \"ВКонтакте\" провела второй чемпионат по программированию VK Cup 2015 — Соцсети на vc.ru\"](https:\/\/vc.ru\/social\/9534-vk-cup-2015). *vc.ru*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20181113025620\/https:\/\/vc.ru\/social\/9534-vk-cup-2015) from the original on 13 November 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.\n100. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-100)**\n     [\"VK Cup 2016 - Codeforces\"](http:\/\/codeforces.com\/vkcup2016). *Codeforces*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20160306005257\/http:\/\/codeforces.com\/vkcup2016) from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2018.\n101. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-101)**\n     [\"\"ВКонтакте\" выплатила 2,5 миллиона рублей призёрам VK Cup 2017\"](http:\/\/www.sobaka.ru\/city\/internet\/59533). *Собака.ru*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20181121020933\/http:\/\/www.sobaka.ru\/city\/internet\/59533) from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.\n102. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-intermedia.ru_102-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-intermedia.ru_102-1)\n     [\"\"ВКонтакте\" завершит год вручением своей первой музыкальной премии\"](http:\/\/www.intermedia.ru\/news\/318143). 15 December 2017. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20181028120626\/http:\/\/www.intermedia.ru\/news\/318143) from the original on 28 October 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.\n103. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-103)**\n     [\"VK Music: Listen to songs and music online for free \\| VK\"](https:\/\/vk.com\/music?z=video-147845620_456239019). [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20220311181802\/https:\/\/vk.com\/login?u=2&to=L2F1ZGlvPw--) from the original on 11 March 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2019.\n104. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-104)**\n     [\"В Москве прошла премия VK Music Awards. Были названы 30 главных треков года\"](https:\/\/the-flow.ru\/news\/vk-music-awards). *The-Flow.ru* (in Russian). [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20181204114857\/https:\/\/the-flow.ru\/news\/vk-music-awards) from the original on 4 December 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.\n105. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-105)**\n     [\"В Петербурге на выходных пройдет третий VK Fest\"](https:\/\/rg.ru\/2017\/07\/14\/reg-szfo\/v-peterburge-na-vyhodnyh-projdet-tretij-vk-fest.html). *Российская газета* (in Russian). 14 July 2017. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20190307191538\/https:\/\/rg.ru\/2017\/07\/14\/reg-szfo\/v-peterburge-na-vyhodnyh-projdet-tretij-vk-fest.html) from the original on 7 March 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2018.\n\n## Literature\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=23 \"Edit section: Literature\")\\]\n\n- Friedrichsen, Mike; Mühl-Benninghaus, Wolfgang, eds. (2013). [*Handbook of Social Media Management*](https:\/\/books.google.com\/books?id=ETHak9WHJGAC&q=vkontakte). Berlin: Springer. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\$identifier\$ \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  \n  [978-3-642-28897-5](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/978-3-642-28897-5 \"Special:BookSources\/978-3-642-28897-5\")\n  \n  .\n\n## External links\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=24 \"Edit section: External links\")\\]\n\n- [![Wikimedia Commons logo](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/4\/4a\/Commons-logo.svg\/20px-Commons-logo.svg.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Commons-logo.svg) Media related to [Vkontakte](https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Vkontakte \"commons:Category:Vkontakte\") at Wikimedia Commons\n- [Official website](https:\/\/vk.com\/) [![Edit this at Wikidata](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/8\/8a\/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg\/20px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png)](https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q116933#P856 \"Edit this at Wikidata\")\n\n| [v](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template:Social_networking_services \"Template:Social networking services\") [t](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template_talk:Social_networking_services \"Template talk:Social networking services\") [e](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:EditPage\/Template:Social_networking_services \"Special:EditPage\/Template:Social networking services\")[Social networking services](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Social_networking_service \"Social networking service\") |   |\n|---|---|\n| [Personal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_social_networking_services \"List of social networking services\") | [23snaps](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/23snaps \"23snaps\") [Amikumu](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Amikumu \"Amikumu\") [anobii](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Anobii \"Anobii\") [Are.na](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Are.na \"Are.na\") [Badoo](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Badoo \"Badoo\") [BeReal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/BeReal \"BeReal\") [Bluesky](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bluesky \"Bluesky\") [BharatMatrimony](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/BharatMatrimony \"BharatMatrimony\") [Bondee](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bondee \"Bondee\") [Bumble](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bumble \"Bumble\") [Cara](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cara_\$app\$ \"Cara (app)\") [Clapper](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Clapper_\$service\$ \"Clapper (service)\") [Clubhouse](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Clubhouse_\$app\$ \"Clubhouse (app)\") [Convoz](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Convoz \"Convoz\") [Cyworld](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cyworld \"Cyworld\") [Diaspora](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Diaspora_\$social_network\$ \"Diaspora (social network)\") [display](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Display_\$social_network\$ \"Display (social network)\") [Douban](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Douban \"Douban\") [Draugiem.lv](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Draugiem.lv \"Draugiem.lv\") [Facebook](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Facebook \"Facebook\") [Foursquare City Guide](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Foursquare_City_Guide \"Foursquare City Guide\") [Foursquare Swarm](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Foursquare_Swarm \"Foursquare Swarm\") [Friendica](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Friendica \"Friendica\") [Gab](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gab_\$social_network\$ \"Gab (social network)\") [Gapo](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gapo \"Gapo\") [Gas](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gas_\$app\$ \"Gas (app)\") [Gettr](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gettr \"Gettr\") [GNU social](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/GNU_social \"GNU social\") [Hi5](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hi5 \"Hi5\") [Hive Social](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hive_Social \"Hive Social\") [Idka](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Idka \"Idka\") [Instagram](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Instagram \"Instagram\") [IRC-Galleria](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/IRC-Galleria \"IRC-Galleria\") [Kuaishou](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kuaishou \"Kuaishou\") [Kumu](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kumu_\$social_network\$ \"Kumu (social network)\") [Letterboxd](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Letterboxd \"Letterboxd\") [Likee](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Likee \"Likee\") [LiveJournal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LiveJournal \"LiveJournal\") [Jeevansathi.com](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jeevansathi.com \"Jeevansathi.com\") [Matrimony.com](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Matrimony.com \"Matrimony.com\") [Marco Polo](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marco_Polo_\$app\$ \"Marco Polo (app)\") [Mastodon](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mastodon_\$social_network\$ \"Mastodon (social network)\") [The Meet Group](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Meet_Group \"The Meet Group\") [Meetup](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meetup \"Meetup\") [mewe](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mewe_\$social_media\$ \"Mewe (social media)\") [Miaopai](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Miaopai \"Miaopai\") [micro.blog](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Micro.blog \"Micro.blog\") [Minds](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Minds_\$social_network\$ \"Minds (social network)\") [Misskey](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Misskey \"Misskey\") [Mixi](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mixi \"Mixi\") [MX TakaTak](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/MX_TakaTak \"MX TakaTak\") [My World@Mail.Ru](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/My_World@Mail.Ru \"My World@Mail.Ru\") [Myspace](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Myspace \"Myspace\") [Nextdoor](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nextdoor \"Nextdoor\") [Odnoklassniki](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Odnoklassniki \"Odnoklassniki\") [Parler](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Parler \"Parler\") [Pinterest](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pinterest \"Pinterest\") [Pixnet](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pixnet \"Pixnet\") [Pleroma](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pleroma_\$software\$ \"Pleroma (software)\") [Plurk](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Plurk \"Plurk\") [Promo.com](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Promo.com \"Promo.com\") [Qzone](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Qzone \"Qzone\") [Readgeek](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Readgeek \"Readgeek\") [Xiaohongshu](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Xiaohongshu \"Xiaohongshu\") (RedNote) [Renren](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Renren \"Renren\") [Seeking.com](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Seeking.com \"Seeking.com\") [Shaadi.com](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shaadi.com \"Shaadi.com\") [ShareChat](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ShareChat \"ShareChat\") [Snapchat](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Snapchat \"Snapchat\") [Snow](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Snow_\$app\$ \"Snow (app)\") [Spaces](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Spaces_\$social_network\$ \"Spaces (social network)\") [Spoutible](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Spoutible \"Spoutible\") [Tagged](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tagged_\$website\$ \"Tagged (website)\") [Tal Canal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tal_Canal \"Tal Canal\") [Tastebuds.fm](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tastebuds.fm \"Tastebuds.fm\") [Tea](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tea_\$app\$ \"Tea (app)\") [Tellonym](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tellonym \"Tellonym\") [Threads](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Threads_\$social_network\$ \"Threads (social network)\") [TikTok](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/TikTok \"TikTok\") [Tinder](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tinder_\$app\$ \"Tinder (app)\") [Triller](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Triller_\$app\$ \"Triller (app)\") [Trust Café](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Trust_Caf%C3%A9 \"Trust Café\") [Truth Social](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Truth_Social \"Truth Social\") [Tuenti](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tuenti \"Tuenti\") [Tumblr](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tumblr \"Tumblr\") [TV Time](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/TV_Time \"TV Time\") [Untappd](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Untappd \"Untappd\") [UpScrolled](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/UpScrolled \"UpScrolled\") [Vero](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vero_\$app\$ \"Vero (app)\") [VK]() [Weibo](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Weibo \"Weibo\") [Whisper](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Whisper_\$app\$ \"Whisper (app)\") [X](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/X_\$social_network\$ \"X (social network)\") (formerly Twitter) [Yik Yak](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yik_Yak \"Yik Yak\") |\n| [Professional](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Professional_network_service \"Professional network service\") | [Academia.edu](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Academia.edu \"Academia.edu\") [Behance](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Behance \"Behance\") [Brainly](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Brainly \"Brainly\") [HCL Connections](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/HCL_Connections \"HCL Connections\") [LinkedIn](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LinkedIn \"LinkedIn\") [Moodle](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Moodle \"Moodle\") [ResearchGate](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ResearchGate \"ResearchGate\") [Solaborate](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Solaborate \"Solaborate\") [TradingView](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/TradingView \"TradingView\") [Viadeo](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Viadeo \"Viadeo\") [Viva Engage](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Viva_Engage \"Viva Engage\") [XING](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/XING \"XING\") |\n| [Defunct](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_defunct_social_networking_services \"List of defunct social networking services\") | [App.net](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/App.net \"App.net\") [AsianAve](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/AsianAve \"AsianAve\") [Ask.fm](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ask.fm \"Ask.fm\") [Avatars United](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Avatars_United \"Avatars United\") [Bebo](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bebo \"Bebo\") [Bolt](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bolt_\$website\$ \"Bolt (website)\") [BranchOut](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/BranchOut \"BranchOut\") [Capazoo](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Capazoo \"Capazoo\") [Cloob](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cloob \"Cloob\") [Cohost](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cohost \"Cohost\") [eConozco](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/EConozco \"EConozco\") [Edmodo](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Edmodo \"Edmodo\") [Ello](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ello_\$social_network\$ \"Ello (social network)\") [Emojli](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Emojli \"Emojli\") [eWorld](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/EWorld \"EWorld\") [Eyegroove](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Eyegroove \"Eyegroove\") [FitFinder](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/FitFinder \"FitFinder\") [FriendFeed](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/FriendFeed \"FriendFeed\") [Friends Reunited](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Friends_Reunited \"Friends Reunited\") [Friendster](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Friendster \"Friendster\") [Google+](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Google%2B \"Google+\") [Google Buzz](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Google_Buzz \"Google Buzz\") [Google Currents](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Google_Currents_\$social_app\$ \"Google Currents (social app)\") [Grono.net](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Grono.net \"Grono.net\") [Heello](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Heello \"Heello\") [Hello](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hello_\$social_network\$ \"Hello (social network)\") [Highlight](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Highlight_\$application\$ \"Highlight (application)\") [Houseparty](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Houseparty_\$app\$ \"Houseparty (app)\") [Huddles](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Huddles_\$app\$ \"Huddles (app)\") [Hyves](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hyves \"Hyves\") [IdeaPlane](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/IdeaPlane \"IdeaPlane\") [IGTV](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/IGTV \"IGTV\") [iTunes Ping](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ITunes_Ping \"ITunes Ping\") [iWiW](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/IWiW \"IWiW\") [Jaiku](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jaiku \"Jaiku\") [Keek](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Keek \"Keek\") [Koo](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Koo_\$social_network\$ \"Koo (social network)\") [Lifeknot](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lifeknot \"Lifeknot\") [LunarStorm](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LunarStorm \"LunarStorm\") [Me2day](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Me2day \"Me2day\") [Meerkat](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meerkat_\$app\$ \"Meerkat (app)\") [Miiverse](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Miiverse \"Miiverse\") [MixBit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/MixBit \"MixBit\") [Mobli](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mobli \"Mobli\") [Mugshot](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mugshot_\$website\$ \"Mugshot (website)\") [Multiply](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Multiply_\$website\$ \"Multiply (website)\") [Musical.ly](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Musical.ly \"Musical.ly\") [Natter](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Natter_\$social_network\$ \"Natter (social network)\") [Netlog](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Netlog \"Netlog\") [NK.pl](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NK.pl \"NK.pl\") [Orkut](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Orkut \"Orkut\") [Path](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Path_\$social_network\$ \"Path (social network)\") [Peach](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Peach_\$social_network\$ \"Peach (social network)\") [Periscope](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Periscope_\$service\$ \"Periscope (service)\") [Pheed](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pheed \"Pheed\") [Piczo](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Piczo \"Piczo\") [PlanetAll](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/PlanetAll \"PlanetAll\") [Posterous](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Posterous \"Posterous\") [Pownce](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pownce \"Pownce\") [Qaiku](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Qaiku \"Qaiku\") [Sciencescape](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sciencescape \"Sciencescape\") (Metaα) [SixDegrees.com](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/SixDegrees.com \"SixDegrees.com\") [Skyrock](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Skyrock_\$social_network_site\$ \"Skyrock (social network site)\") [So.cl](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/So.cl \"So.cl\") [Spotify Live](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Spotify_Live \"Spotify Live\") [Spring.me](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Spring.me \"Spring.me\") [Streetlife](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Streetlife_\$website\$ \"Streetlife (website)\") [StudiVZ](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/StudiVZ \"StudiVZ\") [Surfbook](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Surfbook \"Surfbook\") [Talkbits](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Talkbits \"Talkbits\") [Taringa\\!](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Taringa! \"Taringa!\") [tbh](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tbh \"Tbh\") [Tea Party Community](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tea_Party_Community \"Tea Party Community\") [Third Voice](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Third_Voice \"Third Voice\") [Tout](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tout_\$company\$ \"Tout (company)\") [tribe.net](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tribe.net \"Tribe.net\") [tvtag](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tvtag \"Tvtag\") [Vine](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vine_\$service\$ \"Vine (service)\") [Windows Live Spaces](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Windows_Live_Spaces \"Windows Live Spaces\") [Wretch](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wretch_\$website\$ \"Wretch (website)\") [Xanga](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Xanga \"Xanga\") [Yahoo! 360°](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yahoo_360%C2%B0 \"Yahoo 360°\") [Yahoo! Kickstart](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yahoo_Kickstart \"Yahoo Kickstart\") [Yahoo! Mash](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yahoo_Mash \"Yahoo Mash\") [Yahoo! Meme](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yahoo_Meme \"Yahoo Meme\") [YaRus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/YaRus \"YaRus\") [Yo](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yo_\$app\$ \"Yo (app)\") [Zune Social](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Zune_Social \"Zune Social\") [ZunZuneo](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ZunZuneo \"ZunZuneo\") |\n| Services | [Software comparison](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Comparison_of_social_networking_software \"Comparison of social networking software\") [Burned Haystack Dating Method](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Burned_Haystack_Dating_Method \"Burned Haystack Dating Method\") [White-label](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/White-label_product \"White-label product\") [Ning](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ning_\$website\$ \"Ning (website)\") [Wall.fm](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wall.fm \"Wall.fm\") |\n| Tools | [Analysis software](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Social_network_analysis_software \"Social network analysis software\") [Diaspora](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Diaspora_\$social_network\$ \"Diaspora (social network)\") [Web 2.0 Suicide Machine](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Web_2.0_Suicide_Machine \"Web 2.0 Suicide Machine\") |\n| Concepts | [Attention inequality](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Attention_inequality \"Attention inequality\") [Confessions page](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Confessions_page \"Confessions page\") [Cybersectarianism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cybersectarianism \"Cybersectarianism\") [Fediverse](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fediverse \"Fediverse\") [Online identity](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Online_identity \"Online identity\") [Small-world experiment](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Small-world_experiment \"Small-world experiment\") [Small-world network](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Small-world_network \"Small-world network\") [Social network](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Social_network \"Social network\") [Thirst trap](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Thirst_trap \"Thirst trap\") [User profile](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/User_profile \"User profile\") [Virtual community](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Virtual_community \"Virtual community\") [list](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_virtual_communities_with_more_than_1_million_users \"List of virtual communities with more than 1 million users\") |\n| Applications | [Hospitality exchange service](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hospitality_exchange_service \"Hospitality exchange service\") [Mobile](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mobile_social_network \"Mobile social network\") [Online dating](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Online_dating \"Online dating\") [comparison](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Comparison_of_online_dating_services \"Comparison of online dating services\") [Social network advertising](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Social_network_advertising \"Social network advertising\") [Social network hosting service](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Social_network_hosting_service \"Social network hosting service\") [Social profiling](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Social_profiling \"Social profiling\") |\n| [User interface](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/User_interface \"User interface\") | [Activity stream](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Activity_stream \"Activity stream\") [Brand page](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Brand_page \"Brand page\") [Groups](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Group_\$online_social_networking\$ \"Group (online social networking)\") [Hashtag](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hashtag \"Hashtag\") [Like button](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Like_button \"Like button\") [Online petitions](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Online_petition \"Online petition\") [Polling](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Open-access_poll \"Open-access poll\") [Reblogging](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Reblogging \"Reblogging\") [Story](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Story_\$social_media\$ \"Story (social media)\") |\n| Implications | [Issues](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Issues_relating_to_social_networking_services \"Issues relating to social networking services\") [Privacy concerns](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Privacy_concerns_with_social_networking_services \"Privacy concerns with social networking services\") [Problematic social media use](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Problematic_social_media_use \"Problematic social media use\") [Use in investigations](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Use_of_social_network_websites_in_investigations \"Use of social network websites in investigations\") [Use in politics](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Social_media_use_in_politics \"Social media use in politics\") [User gender differences](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gender_differences_in_social_network_service_use \"Gender differences in social network service use\") |\n| Protocols | [ActivityPub](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ActivityPub \"ActivityPub\") [AT Protocol](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/AT_Protocol \"AT Protocol\") [Decentralized Social Networking Protocol](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Decentralized_Social_Networking_Protocol \"Decentralized Social Networking Protocol\") [Distributed Social Networking Protocol](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Distributed_Social_Networking_Protocol \"Distributed Social Networking Protocol\") (defunct) [Micropub](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Micropub_\$protocol\$ \"Micropub (protocol)\") [Nostr](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nostr \"Nostr\") [OpenSocial](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/OpenSocial \"OpenSocial\") (defunct) [OStatus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/OStatus \"OStatus\") [Pump.io](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pump.io \"Pump.io\") [XMPP](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/XMPP \"XMPP\") |\n\n| [v](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template:Microblogging \"Template:Microblogging\") [t](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template_talk:Microblogging \"Template talk:Microblogging\") [e](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:EditPage\/Template:Microblogging \"Special:EditPage\/Template:Microblogging\")[Microblogging](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Microblogging \"Microblogging\") |   |\n|---|---|\n| Centralized | [Facebook](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Facebook \"Facebook\") [Fanfou](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fanfou \"Fanfou\") [Gab](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gab_\$social_network\$ \"Gab (social network)\") [Gettr](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gettr \"Gettr\") [Hive Social](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hive_Social \"Hive Social\") [LinkedIn](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LinkedIn \"LinkedIn\") [Myspace](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Myspace \"Myspace\") [Pillowfort](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pillowfort \"Pillowfort\") [Plurk](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Plurk \"Plurk\") [Qzone](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Qzone \"Qzone\") [Solaborate](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Solaborate \"Solaborate\") [Spoutible](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Spoutible \"Spoutible\") [Truth Social](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Truth_Social \"Truth Social\") [Tumblr](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tumblr \"Tumblr\") [UpScrolled](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/UpScrolled \"UpScrolled\") [Viadeo](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Viadeo \"Viadeo\") [VK]() [Weibo](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Weibo \"Weibo\") [X\/Twitter](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/X_\$social_network\$ \"X (social network)\") [XING](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/XING \"XING\") |\n| Decentralized |   |\n|   |   |\n| [ActivityPub](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ActivityPub \"ActivityPub\")\\-compatible | [Friendica](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Friendica \"Friendica\") [GNU social](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/GNU_social \"GNU social\") [Mastodon](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mastodon_\$social_network\$ \"Mastodon (social network)\") [micro.blog](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Micro.blog \"Micro.blog\") [Misskey](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Misskey \"Misskey\") [Pleroma](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pleroma_\$software\$ \"Pleroma (software)\") [Threads](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Threads_\$social_network\$ \"Threads (social network)\") |\n| [Bluesky](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bluesky \"Bluesky\") [AT Protocol](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/AT_Protocol \"AT Protocol\") [diaspora](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Diaspora_\$social_network\$ \"Diaspora (social network)\") [identi.ca](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Identi.ca \"Identi.ca\") [pump.io](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pump.io \"Pump.io\") [Nostr](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nostr \"Nostr\") [OpenMicroBlogging](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/OpenMicroBlogging \"OpenMicroBlogging\") [OStatus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/OStatus \"OStatus\") [Twister](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Twister_\$software\$ \"Twister (software)\") |   |\n| Defunct | [App.net](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/App.net \"App.net\") [Edmodo](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Edmodo \"Edmodo\") [Google Buzz](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Google_Buzz \"Google Buzz\") [Google+](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Google%2B \"Google+\") [Heello](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Heello \"Heello\") [Jaiku](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jaiku \"Jaiku\") [Me2day](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Me2day \"Me2day\") [Meme](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yahoo_Meme \"Yahoo Meme\") [Migme](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Migme \"Migme\") [Natter](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Natter_\$social_network\$ \"Natter (social network)\") [Parler](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Parler \"Parler\") [Posterous](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Posterous \"Posterous\") [Pownce](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pownce \"Pownce\") [Qaiku](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Qaiku \"Qaiku\") [Tencent Weibo](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tencent_Weibo \"Tencent Weibo\") [Tout](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tout_\$company\$ \"Tout (company)\") |\n| Features | [Activity stream](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Activity_stream \"Activity stream\") [Backchannel](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Backchannel \"Backchannel\") [Hashtag](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hashtag \"Hashtag\") [Lifestreaming](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lifestreaming \"Lifestreaming\") [Mention\/Replies](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mention_\$blogging\$ \"Mention (blogging)\") [Reblogging](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Reblogging \"Reblogging\") |\n| [Comparison of microblogging and similar services](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Comparison_of_microblogging_and_similar_services \"Comparison of microblogging and similar services\") |   |\n\n![](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:CentralAutoLogin\/start?useformat=desktop&type=1x1&usesul3=1)\n\nRetrieved from \"<https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_(service)&oldid=1347524358>\"\n\n[Categories](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Help:Category \"Help:Category\"):\n\n- [Companies based in Saint Petersburg](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Companies_based_in_Saint_Petersburg \"Category:Companies based in Saint Petersburg\")\n- [Russian social networking websites](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Russian_social_networking_websites \"Category:Russian social networking websites\")\n- [2006 establishments in Russia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:2006_establishments_in_Russia \"Category:2006 establishments in Russia\")\n- [Internet properties established in 2006](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Internet_properties_established_in_2006 \"Category:Internet properties established in 2006\")\n- [Notorious 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Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the [Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.](https:\/\/wikimediafoundation.org\/), a non-profit organization.\n\n- [Privacy policy](https:\/\/foundation.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Special:MyLanguage\/Policy:Privacy_policy)\n- [About Wikipedia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:About)\n- [Disclaimers](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:General_disclaimer)\n- [Contact Wikipedia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Contact_us)\n- [Legal & safety contacts](https:\/\/foundation.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Special:MyLanguage\/Legal:Wikimedia_Foundation_Legal_and_Safety_Contact_Information)\n- [Code of Conduct](https:\/\/foundation.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Special:MyLanguage\/Policy:Universal_Code_of_Conduct)\n- [Developers](https:\/\/developer.wikimedia.org\/)\n- [Statistics](https:\/\/stats.wikimedia.org\/#\/en.wikipedia.org)\n- [Cookie statement](https:\/\/foundation.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Special:MyLanguage\/Policy:Cookie_statement)\n- [Mobile view](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&mobileaction=toggle_view_mobile)\n\n- [![Wikimedia Foundation](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/static\/images\/footer\/wikimedia.svg)](https:\/\/www.wikimedia.org\/)\n- [![Powered by MediaWiki](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/resources\/assets\/mediawiki_compact.svg)](https:\/\/www.mediawiki.org\/)\n\nSearch\n\nToggle the table of contents\n\nVK (service)\n\n78 languages\n\n[Add topic](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$)","attrs_readable_markdown":"|   |   |\n|---|---|\n| [![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/6\/60\/VK_Full_Logo_%282021-present%29.svg\/250px-VK_Full_Logo_%282021-present%29.svg.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:VK_Full_Logo_\$2021-present\$.svg) |   |\n| Screenshot [![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/2\/2c\/VK%27s_home_page_%28February_2026%29.png\/330px-VK%27s_home_page_%28February_2026%29.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:VK%27s_home_page_\$February_2026\$.png) |   |\n| Type of site | [Social networking service](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Social_networking_service \"Social networking service\") |\n| Available in | 86 languages |\n| Founded | 10 October 2006; 19 years ago in [Saint Petersburg](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Saint_Petersburg \"Saint Petersburg\"), Russia |\n| Area served | Worldwide; the majority of its users are in the former [USSR](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/USSR \"USSR\") or in the [CIS](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Commonwealth_of_Independent_States \"Commonwealth of Independent States\") |\n| Created by | [Pavel Durov](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pavel_Durov \"Pavel Durov\"), [Nikolai Durov](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nikolai_Durov \"Nikolai Durov\") |\n| CEO | [Vladimir Kiriyenko](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vladimir_Kiriyenko \"Vladimir Kiriyenko\") |\n| [Revenue](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Revenue \"Revenue\") | 42\\.751 [₽](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Russian_ruble \"Russian ruble\") billion (2016)[\\[1\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-1) |\n| [Parent](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Holding_company \"Holding company\") | [VK](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$company\$ \"VK (company)\") |\n| URL | [vk.com](http:\/\/vk.com\/) |\n| Registration | Required |\n| Launched | 10 October 2006; 19 years ago |\n| Current status | Active |\n\n**VK** (short for its original name ***VKontakte***; [Russian](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Russian_language \"Russian language\"): ВКонтакте, [lit.](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Literal_translation \"Literal translation\")'InContact') is a Russian online [social media](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Social_media \"Social media\") and [social networking service](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Social_networking_service \"Social networking service\") based in [Saint Petersburg](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Saint_Petersburg \"Saint Petersburg\"). VK is available in multiple languages but it is predominantly used by [Russian speakers](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Russophone \"Russophone\"). VK users can message each other publicly or privately, edit messages,[\\[2\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-2) create [groups](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Group_\$online_social_networking\$ \"Group (online social networking)\"), public pages, and events; share and tag images, audio, and [video](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Online_video_platform \"Online video platform\"); and play [browser-based games](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Browser_game \"Browser game\").[\\[3\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-3)\n\nAs of August 2018, VK had at least 500 million accounts.[\\[4\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-usercount-4) As of November 2022, it was the sixth most popular website in Russia.[\\[5\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-5) The network was also popular in [Ukraine](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ukraine \"Ukraine\") until it was banned by the [Supreme Council](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Verkhovna_Rada \"Verkhovna Rada\") in 2017.[\\[6\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-6)\n\nAccording to [Semrush](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Semrush \"Semrush\"), in 2024, VK was the 30th [most visited website in the world](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_most-visited_websites \"List of most-visited websites\");[\\[7\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-7) as [YouTube](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/YouTube \"YouTube\") is [subject to blocking in Russia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Internet_censorship_in_Russia \"Internet censorship in Russia\"),[\\[8\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-8) VK Video overtook [Google](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Google \"Google\")'s top position in monthly web traffic for the first time in December 2024,[\\[9\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-9) as part of the major substitution to domestic business.[\\[10\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-10)[\\[11\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-11)\n\n[![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/e\/ed\/VKontakte_Number_of_Registered_users_120224.png\/250px-VKontakte_Number_of_Registered_users_120224.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:VKontakte_Number_of_Registered_users_120224.png)\n\nNumber of Registered users (millions) on VKontakte between 2006 and 2012\n\n[![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/c\/c2\/Pavel_Durov_26years.jpg\/250px-Pavel_Durov_26years.jpg)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Pavel_Durov_26years.jpg)\n\n[Pavel Durov](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pavel_Durov \"Pavel Durov\"), the founder of VKontakte, on his 26th birthday, 10 October 2010\n\nVKontakte was conceived in 2006 when [Pavel Durov](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pavel_Durov \"Pavel Durov\"), creator of the popular student forum *spbgu.ru*, met his former classmate [Vyacheslav Mirilashvili](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yitzchak_Mirilashvili \"Yitzchak Mirilashvili\") in [St. Petersburg](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/St._Petersburg \"St. Petersburg\") after graduating from the Faculty of Philology at [St Petersburg State University](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Saint_Petersburg_State_University \"Saint Petersburg State University\"). Vyacheslav showed Durov the increasingly popular [Facebook](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Facebook \"Facebook\"), after which the friends decided to create a new Russian social network. [Lev Leviev](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lev_Binzumovich_Leviev \"Lev Binzumovich Leviev\"), an Israeli classmate of Vyacheslav Mirilashivili, became the third co-founder. Vyacheslav Mirilashvili borrowed the money from his billionaire [father](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mikhael_Mirilashvili \"Mikhael Mirilashvili\") and became the largest shareholder. Lev Leviev took over operational management, and Durov became CEO. Pavel Durov convinced his older brother [Nikolai](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nikolai_Durov \"Nikolai Durov\"), a multiple winner of international math and programming competitions, to develop the site.[\\[12\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-svoboda-12)[\\[13\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-koddurovaforbes-13)\n\nDurov launched VKontakte for beta testing in September 2006. The following month, the domain name *Vkontakte.ru* was registered.[\\[14\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-FOOTNOTEFriedrichsenM%C3%BChl-Benninghaus2013406-14) The new project was incorporated on 19 January 2007 as a Russian private limited company. In February 2007 the site reached a user base of over 100,000 and was recognized as the second largest company in Russia's nascent social network market. In the same month, the site was subjected to a severe [DDoS](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/DDoS \"DDoS\") attack, which briefly put it offline. The user base reached 1 million in July 2007, and 10 million in April 2008. In December 2008 VK overtook rival [Odnoklassniki](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Odnoklassniki \"Odnoklassniki\") as Russia's most popular social networking service.[\\[15\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-15)\n\n[![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/3\/36\/Vkontakte.png\/250px-Vkontakte.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Vkontakte.png)\n\nVK logo before 2015\n\nSimilar to many social networks, the platform's fundamental features revolve around private messaging, sharing photos, posting status updates, and exchanging links with friends. VK also provides tools for administering online communities and managing celebrity pages. The site allows its users to upload, search and stream media content, such as videos and music. VK features an advanced search engine, that allows complex queries for finding friends, as well as a real-time news search. VK updated its features and design in April 2016.[\\[16\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-16)\n\n- **Messaging**. VK Private Messages can be exchanged between groups of 2 to 500 people. An email address can also be specified as the recipient. Each message may contain up to 10 attachments: Photos, Videos, Audio Files, Maps (an embedded map with a manually placed marker), and Documents.[\\[17\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-17)\n- **News**. VK users can post on their profile walls, each post may contain up to 10 attachments – media files, maps, and documents (see above). User mentions and hashtags are supported. In the case of multiple photo attachments, the previews are automatically scaled and arranged in a magazine-style layout. The news feed can be switched between *all news* (default) and *most interesting* modes. The site features a news-recommendation engine, global real-time search, and individual search for posts and comments on specific users' walls.\n- **Communities**. VK features three types of communities. *Groups* are better suited for decentralized communities (discussion boards, wiki-style articles, editable by all members, etc.). *Public pages* is a news feed-orientated broadcasting tool for celebrities and businesses. The two types are largely interchangeable, the main difference being in the default settings. The third type of community is called *Events*, which are used for appropriately organizing concerts and events in an appropriate way.[\\[18\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-18)\n\n[![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/f\/fe\/%D0%9C%D0%BD%D0%B5_%D0%BD%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F.jpg\/250px-%D0%9C%D0%BD%D0%B5_%D0%BD%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F.jpg)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:%D0%9C%D0%BD%D0%B5_%D0%BD%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F.jpg)\n\nLike button on VK (Russian version)\n\n- **Like buttons**. VK like buttons for posts, comments, media, and external sites operate differently from Facebook. Liked content doesn't get automatically pushed to the user's wall, but is saved in the private Favorites section instead. The user has to press a second 'share with friends' button to share an item on their wall or send it via private message to a friend.\n- **Privacy**. Users can control the availability of their content within the network and on the Internet. Blanket and granular privacy settings are available for pages and individual content.\n- **Synchronization with other social networks**. Any news published on the VK wall will appear on Facebook or [Twitter](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Twitter \"Twitter\"). Certain news may not be published by clicking on the logo next to the \"Send\" button. Editing a post in VK does not change the post in Facebook or Twitter and vice versa. However, removing the news in VK will remove it from other social networks.\n- **SMS service**. Russian users can receive and reply to a private message or leave a comment for community news using SMS.\n- **Music.** Users have access to the audio files uploaded by other users. In addition, users can upload the audio files themselves, create playlists and share audios with others by attaching to messages and wall posts. The uploaded audio files cannot violate copyright laws.[\\[19\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-19)\n\nAs of May 2017, according to [Alexa Internet](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alexa_Internet \"Alexa Internet\") ranking, VK is one of the most visited websites in some Eurasian countries. It is:\n\n- 4th most visited in Russia;[\\[20\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-20)\n- 3rd most visited in [Belarus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Belarus \"Belarus\");[\\[21\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-21)\n- 6th most visited in [Kazakhstan](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kazakhstan \"Kazakhstan\");[\\[22\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-22)\n- 8th most visited in [Kyrgyzstan](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kyrgyzstan \"Kyrgyzstan\")[\\[23\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-23) and [Moldova](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Moldova \"Moldova\");[\\[24\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-24)\n- 12th most visited in [Latvia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Latvia \"Latvia\").[\\[25\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-25)\n\nIt was the fourth most viewed site in Ukraine until, in May 2017, the Ukrainian government banned the use of VK in Ukraine.[\\[26\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-UbRwM17-26) According to a study for May 2018 conducted by [Factum Group Ukraine](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Factum_Group_Ukraine&action=edit&redlink=1 \"Factum Group Ukraine (page does not exist)\") VK remained the fourth most viewed site in Ukraine, but [Facebook](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Facebook \"Facebook\") was twice as much visited.[\\[27\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-27) For 2019, VK appeared as the most visited social network in Ukraine according to Alexa.[\\[28\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-28) According to the [Internet Association of Ukraine](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ukrainian_Internet_Association \"Ukrainian Internet Association\") the share of Ukrainian Internet users who visit VK daily had fallen from 54% to 10% from September 2016 to September 2019.[\\[29\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-withoutVKontakte653664-29) They also claimed in November 2019 that Facebook was the most popular social network.[\\[29\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-withoutVKontakte653664-29)\n\nVK was expected to gain most of the users lost by [Facebook](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Facebook \"Facebook\") and [Instagram](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Instagram \"Instagram\") after they were blocked in Russia in 2022, according to a Calltouch poll.[\\[30\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-30)\n\n[![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/9\/9d\/%D0%94%D0%BE%D0%BC_%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B8_%22%D0%97%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B5%D1%80%22%2C_%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4_%D1%81_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE_%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F.jpg\/250px-%D0%94%D0%BE%D0%BC_%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B8_%22%D0%97%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B5%D1%80%22%2C_%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4_%D1%81_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE_%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F.jpg)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:%D0%94%D0%BE%D0%BC_%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B8_%22%D0%97%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B5%D1%80%22,_%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4_%D1%81_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE_%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F.jpg)\n\nThe headquarters of VK on the [Nevsky Avenue](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nevsky_Avenue \"Nevsky Avenue\") in [Saint Petersburg](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Saint_Petersburg \"Saint Petersburg\") ([Singer House](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Singer_House \"Singer House\"))\n\nInitially, founder and CEO [Pavel Durov](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pavel_Durov \"Pavel Durov\") owned 20% of shares (although he had majority voting power through proxy votes), and a trio of Russian-Israeli investors [Yitzchak Mirilashvili](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yitzchak_Mirilashvili \"Yitzchak Mirilashvili\"), his father [Mikhael Mirilashvili](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mikhael_Mirilashvili \"Mikhael Mirilashvili\"), and [Lev Leviev](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lev_Binzumovich_Leviev \"Lev Binzumovich Leviev\")[\\[31\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-31) owned 60%, 10%, and 10% respectively.[\\[32\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-owners-32)\n\nIn 2007, Digital Sky Technologies, an investment company managed by [Yuri Milner](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yuri_Milner \"Yuri Milner\"), acquired a total of 24.99% of the shares from shareholders, investing \\$16.3 million.[\\[13\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-koddurovaforbes-13) In preparation for the [IPO](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/IPO \"IPO\") in September 2010, DST separated international and Russian assets: the former formed the [DST Global](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/DST_Global \"DST Global\") fund, while the latter, including VKontakte and rival social network [Odnoklassniki](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Odnoklassniki \"Odnoklassniki\"), were merged into [Mail.ru Group](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mail.ru_Group \"Mail.ru Group\"). Mail.ru Group used part of the money to acquire 7.5% of the social network for \\$112.5 million at a valuation of the entire project of 1.5 billion dollars. After exercising a 7.5% option in July 2011 for \\$111.7 million, Mail.ru Group accumulated a 39.99% stake in VKontakte.[\\[33\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-teatrdurovaforbes-33)[\\[34\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-dstownsvk-34)[\\[35\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-35)\n\nThe head of Mail.ru Group, [Dmitry Grishin](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dmitry_Grishin \"Dmitry Grishin\"), voiced the company's intention to gain 100% control over VKontakte. MRG was discussing with shareholders to buy out shares from the valuation of the entire company in \\$2-3 billion. In the summer of 2011, Mirilashvili and Leviev were ready to accept in payment owned by Mail.ru Group shares of Facebook, [Groupon](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groupon \"Groupon\"), and [Zynga](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Zynga \"Zynga\"), but the deal failed due to Durov's unwillingness to sell a stake on MRG terms. Later, the co-founders considered VKontakte's IPO as an alternative. In March 2012, Durov \"accidentally\" became plugged into the negotiations where Mirilashvili and Leviev discussed selling their stakes directly to Mail.ru Group's main investor, [Alisher Usmanov](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alisher_Usmanov \"Alisher Usmanov\"). On the same day, Durov deleted the pages of the first co-investors, stopped contacting them, and soon announced that VKontakte would postpone its IPO indefinitely.[\\[33\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-teatrdurovaforbes-33)[\\[36\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-thebell-36)\n\nOn 29 May 2012, Mail.ru Group announced its decision to yield control of the company to Durov by offering him the voting rights on its shares. Combined with Durov's personal 12% stake, this gave him 52% of the votes.[\\[37\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-37)[\\[38\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-ipovotes-38)\n\nIn April 2013, the [Mirilashvili family](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mikhael_Mirilashvili \"Mikhael Mirilashvili\") sold its 40% share in VK to United Capital Partners for \\$1.12 billion,[\\[39\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-39)[\\[40\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-40) while [Lev Leviev](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lev_Binzumovich_Leviev \"Lev Binzumovich Leviev\") sold his 8% share in the same deal, giving United Capital Partners 48% ownership. In January 2014, VK's founder Pavel Durov sold his 12% stake in the company to [Ivan Tavrin](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ivan_Tavrin \"Ivan Tavrin\"), the CEO of [MegaFon](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/MegaFon \"MegaFon\"), which is controlled by [Alisher Usmanov](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alisher_Usmanov \"Alisher Usmanov\"). Following the deal, Usmanov and his allies controlled around 52% of the company.[\\[41\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-41) Shortly thereafter, the CEO of Megafon, sold his 12% stake to Mail.ru, thus allowing Mail.ru to consolidate its controlling stake of 52% in VK.[\\[42\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-42)\n\nOn 1 April 2014, Durov submitted his resignation to the board; at first, due to the fact the company confirmed he had resigned, it was believed to be related to the [Russo-Ukrainian War](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Russo-Ukrainian_War \"Russo-Ukrainian War\") which began in the previous February.[\\[43\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-April1-43) However, Durov himself claimed it was an April Fool's Joke on 3 April 2014.[\\[44\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-April2-44)[\\[45\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-45) On 21 April 2014, Durov was dismissed as CEO, claiming he failed to withdraw his letter of resignation a month earlier.[\\[46\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-DurovMT22414-46)[\\[47\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-DurovOutForGood-47) Durov then claimed the company had been effectively taken over by [Vladimir Putin](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vladimir_Putin \"Vladimir Putin\")'s political faction,[\\[46\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-DurovMT22414-46)[\\[48\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-DurovTI22414-48) suggesting his dismissal was the result of both his refusal to hand over personal details of users to federal law enforcement and his refusal to hand over the personal details of people who were members of a VKontakte group dedicated to the [Euromaidan](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Euromaidan \"Euromaidan\") protest movement.[\\[46\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-DurovMT22414-46)[\\[48\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-DurovTI22414-48) Durov then left Russia and stated that he had \"no plans to go back\"[\\[48\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-DurovTI22414-48) and that \"the country is incompatible with Internet business at the moment\".[\\[47\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-DurovOutForGood-47)\n\nOn 16 September 2014, the [Mail.ru](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mail.ru \"Mail.ru\") group bought the remaining 48% stake of VK from [United Capital Partners](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_Capital_Partners \"United Capital Partners\") (UCP)[\\[49\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-ft.com-49) for \\$1.5 billion,[\\[49\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-ft.com-49) thus becoming the sole proprietor of the social network.[\\[50\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-50)\n\nIn December 2021, Russian state-owned bank [Gazprombank](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gazprombank \"Gazprombank\") and insurance company [Sogaz](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sogaz \"Sogaz\") bought out 57.3% of VK shares, thus becoming the holders of the company's [controlling interest](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Controlling_interest \"Controlling interest\").[\\[51\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-51)[\\[52\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-52)\n\nIn 2008, the TV channel [Russia-1](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Russia-1 \"Russia-1\") and its owner [VGTRK](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VGTRK \"VGTRK\") sued VK over unlicensed uploads of two of its films by VK users. In 2010, this dispute was settled by the [Russian High Arbitration Court](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/High_Court_of_Arbitration_of_Russia \"High Court of Arbitration of Russia\") in favour of the social network. The court ruled that VK is not responsible for its users’ copyright violations, taking into account that both parties agreed with the technical possibility to identify the user who posted illegal content and who, consequently, must incur the liability.[\\[53\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-53) Another ruling early in 2012 went partially in favor of [Gala Records (now Warner Music Russia)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Warner_Music_Group \"Warner Music Group\"), a recording studio, when the same court ordered VK to pay \\$7000 for not being active enough in regard to copyrighted materials.[\\[54\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-54)\n\n#### Efforts against copyright infringement\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=9 \"Edit section: Efforts against copyright infringement\")\\]\n\nVK offers a content removal tool for copyright holders.[\\[55\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-55)[\\[56\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-56) Large-scale copyright holders may gain access to bulk content removal tools.[\\[57\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-57)\n\nSince 2010, VK has also entered several partnerships with legal content providers such as television networks.[\\[58\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-58) and streaming providers.[\\[59\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-59) Most notably, the Video on Demand provider [Ivi.ru](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ivi.ru \"Ivi.ru\") that has secured licensing rights with all Hollywood majors in 2012.[\\[60\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-60) These partnerships allow providers to remove user-uploaded content from VK and substitute it with legal embedded copies from the provider's site.[\\[61\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-61) This legal content can be either ad-sponsored, subscription-based, or free, depending on the provider's choices. VK does not display its own advertising in the site's music or video sections, nor in the videos themselves. In October 2013, VKontakte was cleared of copyright infringement charges by a court in [Saint Petersburg](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Saint_Petersburg \"Saint Petersburg\"). The judge ruled that the social network is not responsible for the content uploaded by its users.[\\[62\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-62)\n\nIn November 2014, the head of the [Roskomnadzor](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Roskomnadzor \"Roskomnadzor\"), [Maxim Ksenzov](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Maxim_Ksenzov \"Maxim Ksenzov\"), said that VKontakte would complete the process of legalization of the content at the beginning of 2015. At that time (November 2014), negotiations between major label companies and the social network VKontakte were ongoing.[\\[63\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-63)\n\n### DDoS attacks on sites\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=10 \"Edit section: DDoS attacks on sites\")\\]\n\nBecause the social network is one of the most popular and visited sites in [runet](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Runet \"Runet\"), its visits can be used to make DDoS attacks on smaller sites. VK performed [DDOS attacks](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/DDOS_attack \"DDOS attack\") on certain sites, making users' browsers send multiple requests to the target site without their consent. The targets were the [Runet Prize](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Runet_Prize \"Runet Prize\") voting page in 2008[\\[64\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-64) and the [CAPTCHA](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/CAPTCHA \"CAPTCHA\")\\-solving service antigate.com in 2012.[\\[65\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-65)[\\[66\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-66) It was done by inserting an iframe and a piece of JavaScript code which periodically reloaded the iframe. As a countermeasure, antigate was detecting whether iframe was loaded from VK and if it were antigate had redirected request to [xHamster](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/XHamster \"XHamster\"), a [pornography website](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Internet_pornography \"Internet pornography\"). VK needed to cease the attack due to the site's use by children. VK tried to use [XMLHttpRequest](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/XMLHttpRequest \"XMLHttpRequest\") to solve this problem, but had forgotten about the [same-origin policy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Same-origin_policy \"Same-origin policy\"). They succeeded in stopping the attack, though there were many ways to solve the problem with redirect\\[*[original research?](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:No_original_research \"Wikipedia:No original research\")*\\].\n\nDurov was dismissed as CEO in April 2014 after he had failed to retract a letter of resignation. Durov contended that the resignation letter was an [April fools](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/April_fools \"April fools\") prank.[\\[46\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-DurovMT22414-46) Durov then claimed [Vladimir Putin's](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vladimir_Putin \"Vladimir Putin\") allies had, in effect, taken over the company,[\\[46\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-DurovMT22414-46)[\\[48\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-DurovTI22414-48)[\\[67\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-67) and suggested his ousting was the result of his refusal to hand over personal details of users to the [Russian Federal Security Service](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Russian_Federal_Security_Service \"Russian Federal Security Service\") and his refusal to shut down a VK group dedicated to anti-corruption activist [Alexei Navalny](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alexei_Navalny \"Alexei Navalny\").[\\[46\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-DurovMT22414-46)[\\[48\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-DurovTI22414-48)\n\nOn 24 May 2013, it was reported in the media that the site had been mistakenly put on a list of websites banned by the Russian government.[\\[68\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-68) Some critics have accused the blacklist as the latest in a series of suspicious incidents to have happened to the website in recent months as a way for the Russian government to increase their stake in, and control of the site.[\\[69\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-69)\n\nOn 18 November 2013, following an order from the Court of [Rome](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rome \"Rome\"), VK was blocked in [Italy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Italy \"Italy\") after a complaint from [Medusa Film](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Medusa_Film \"Medusa Film\") stating that it was hosting an illegal copy of one of its films.[\\[70\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-70) However, in April 2015, the site was reopened for Italian users and its mobile app is available on both the [App Store](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/App_Store_\$iOS\$ \"App Store (iOS)\") and [Google Play](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Google_Play \"Google Play\").\\[*[citation needed](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Citation_needed \"Wikipedia:Citation needed\")*\\]\n\nIn January 2016, [China](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/China \"China\") banned VKontakte, claiming that it was manipulating web content and cooperating with the Kremlin. According to Russia's [media watchdog](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Media_watchdog \"Media watchdog\"), the network estimates around 300,000 users based in China.[\\[71\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-71) As of 14 February 2018, China authorities unblocked VKontakte and it was fully accessible in the country.[\\[72\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-72)\n\nIn May 2017, Ukrainian President [Petro Poroshenko](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Petro_Poroshenko \"Petro Poroshenko\") signed a decree to impose a ban on Mail.ru and its widely used social networks including VKontakte and [Odnoklassniki](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Odnoklassniki \"Odnoklassniki\") as part of its continued sanctions on Russia for its [annexation of Crimea](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2014_Russian_annexation_of_Crimea \"2014 Russian annexation of Crimea\") and involvement in the [war in Donbas](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/War_in_Donbas \"War in Donbas\").[\\[26\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-UbRwM17-26)[\\[73\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-Poroshenko170515-73)[\\[74\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-UkraineSanctionsEntityList-74) [Reporters Without Borders](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Reporters_Without_Borders \"Reporters Without Borders\") condemned the ban, calling it a \"disproportionate measure that seriously undermines the Ukrainian people's right to information and freedom of expression.\"[\\[75\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-75) VK closed its office in Ukraine's capital [Kyiv](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kyiv \"Kyiv\") in June 2017.[\\[76\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-76)\n\nIn December 2021, VKontakte's CEO, Boris Dobrodeev resigned from his post. [Reuters](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Reuters \"Reuters\") linked Dobrodeev's resignation to the acquisition of VK's majority interest by two state-owned companies that happened the same month. According to one analyst, the state consolidation of VKontakte would cause greater censorship by the government.[\\[77\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-77)\n\nOn 12 May 2022, in connection with the sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU), NEPLP decided to limit the activity of \"VKontakte\" (\"vk.com\"), \"Odnoklassniki\" (\"ok.ru\") and \"Moy Mir\" (\"my.mail.ru\") social medias in [Latvia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Latvia \"Latvia\"). The decision was made because NEPLP has evidence that the platforms are owned and controlled by [Yury Kovalchuk](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yury_Kovalchuk \"Yury Kovalchuk\") and [Vladimir Kiriyenko](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vladimir_Kiriyenko \"Vladimir Kiriyenko\"). The mentioned persons are subject to EU sanctions in connection with undermining the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.[\\[78\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-78)\n\nAfter the [Russian military invasion of Ukraine](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2022_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine \"2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine\"), on 26 September 2022, the VK application (as well as other applications of the holding services) was removed from the Apple App Store due to [international sanctions](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/International_sanctions_during_the_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine \"International sanctions during the Russian invasion of Ukraine\").[\\[79\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-79)[\\[80\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-80) On 28 September, the Russian communications regulator [Roskomnadzor](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Roskomnadzor \"Roskomnadzor\") issued a statement demanding an explanation for the removal of the VK application from the App Store.[\\[81\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-81) CEO [Vladimir Kiriyenko](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vladimir_Kiriyenko \"Vladimir Kiriyenko\") was sanctioned by the United States, India, Canada, United Kingdom, European Union, Japan, Australia and various countries.[\\[82\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-82)\n\n## Prosecution of users in Russia\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=13 \"Edit section: Prosecution of users in Russia\")\\]\n\nIn July 2012, VKontakte was accused of close cooperation with the [Centre for Combating Extremism (Centre E)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Centre_for_Combating_Extremism \"Centre for Combating Extremism\"), a unit within the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs heavily criticized for repressing opposition activists.[\\[83\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-83)[\\[84\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-84) For publications, reposts, comments and [likes](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Like_button \"Like button\") posted on their VKontakte pages, dozens of Russian citizens were sentenced to fines, suspended sentences and imprisonment. Most of the cases against users are qualified as propaganda of extremism, xenophobia and Nazism. Statistically, among all the social networking services available in Russia, the users of VKontakte were targeted by police almost exclusively.[\\[85\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-85)[\\[86\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-86)\n\n## Events and projects\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=14 \"Edit section: Events and projects\")\\]\n\n### Automated workplace of a civil servant\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=VK_\$service\$&action=edit&section=15 \"Edit section: Automated workplace of a civil servant\")\\]\n\nBy 2023, on the basis of VK, the “Automated workplace of a civil servant” (АРМ ГС in Russian) was developed, to which it is planned to transfer all Russian civil servants. AWP includes mail, calendar, cloud storage, instant messenger, supports audio and video calls. It should replace Telegram, WhatsApp, Gmail, Google Docs, Zoom and Skype widely used in Russia. Thus, the Russian government intends to exclude foreign services from the public administration system. Officials were supposed to switch to \"Automated workplace\" from May 1, 2023. [\\[87\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-87)\n\nIn June 2023, the [Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ministry_of_Digital_Development,_Communications_and_Mass_Media \"Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media\") announced a competition for software developers to \"scale\" the workspace and provide the necessary level of cryptographic protection. It is planned to spend 9 million rubles on the project.[\\[88\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-88)\n\nVK organized their first 24-hour [Hackathon](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hackathon \"Hackathon\") in 2015 from 31 October to 1 November. The participants were invited to develop projects united by a common idea: “Make it Simple!” (Russian: «Упрощайте!»). 34 teams took part in the competition. A prize pool of 300 thousand rubles was split among the winners.[\\[89\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-89)\n\nThe second VK Hackathon took place from 26 to 27 November 2016. The participants developed projects for the community app platform. The “Search for Lost Cats” (Russian: «Поиск пропавших котиков») app won the “Developers’ Choice” category. The prize pool for the event was 300 thousand rubles.[\\[90\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-90)\n\nThe third VK Hackathon took place from 20 to 22 October 2017 with 320 participants competing in the event. The prize pool was one million rubles. An application designed to help users navigate the [State Hermitage Museum](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/State_Hermitage_Museum \"State Hermitage Museum\") won the “Culture” category.[\\[91\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-91)\n\nIn 2011, Pavel Durov and [Yuri Milner](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yuri_Milner \"Yuri Milner\") created Start Fellows, a grant program founded to support projects in the field of technology.[\\[92\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-92) In 2014, VK took over the Start Fellows program and made it more systematic. The grant was provided to 3 companies each month and included project consultation from VK along with 25 thousand rubles a month for advertisement on the VK platform. Winners of the grant include “University Schedules” (Russian: «Расписание вузов»), a scheduling app, LiveCamDroid, a mobile streaming service, HTML Academy, an educational project, and others.[\\[93\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-93)[\\[94\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-94)[\\[95\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-95)[\\[96\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-96)\n\nVK re-launched the project in 2017. Only active projects with an earnings model could submit applications. 327 grant applications were received but only 67 of them passed the initial screening. The total prize pool was 2.5 million rubles.[\\[97\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-97)\n\nThe first VK Cup, a programming championship for young programmers aged 13–23, was held on 16 July 2012 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.[\\[98\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-98)\n\nVK and [Codeforces](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Codeforces \"Codeforces\") co-organized the second VK Cup programming championship, which took place from 24 to 27 July 2015. The winners received a total of 1,048,576 or 220 rubles (an amount related to round binary numbers).[\\[99\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-99)\n\nThe third VK Cup took place from 1 to 4 July 2016 and had a prize pool of 2.5 million rubles.[\\[100\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-100)\n\nVK and Codeforces co-organized the fourth VK Cup which took place from 8 to 9 July 2017. Teams from 52 countries applied to take part in the competition. The prize pool for the competition was 2.5 million rubles.[\\[101\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-101)\n\nThe first VK Music Awards ceremony took place on 25 December 2017. The VK Music Awards were produced by [Timur Bekmambetov](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Timur_Bekmambetov \"Timur Bekmambetov\") and the [Bazelevs Company](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bazelevs_Company \"Bazelevs Company\") with [Pavel Volya](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pavel_Volya \"Pavel Volya\") hosting the event.[\\[102\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-intermedia.ru-102) The awards ceremony was held in the form of an online live stream.[\\[103\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-103) Any VK user could watch the broadcast live. After the ceremony, a private concert was held in the [Vegas City Hall](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Crocus_City_Hall \"Crocus City Hall\") in Moscow. Tickets to the event could be won through a contest held in the VK Music community.[\\[102\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-intermedia.ru-102) VK Music Awards winners were determined by the number of plays an artist's song got on VK and the BOOM app. The names of the 30 award winners were published on the official VK Music Awards community page and on the BOOM app website. “Rosé Wine” ([Allj](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Eldzhey \"Eldzhey\") and [Feduk](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Feduk \"Feduk\")), “Lambada” ([T-Fest](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/T-Fest \"T-Fest\") and [Scriptonite](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Scriptonite \"Scriptonite\")), and “My Half” ([MiyaGi and Endspiel](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=MiyaGi_and_Endspiel&action=edit&redlink=1 \"MiyaGi and Endspiel (page does not exist)\") \\[[ru](https:\/\/ru.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/T-MiyaGi_%26_Andy_Panda \"ru:T-MiyaGi & Andy Panda\")\\]) topped the list of most listened to songs. The official pages of all award winners have been marked with a special symbol.[\\[104\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-104)\n\nSince 2015, VK has held a yearly 2-day open-air music and entertainment festival. This festival traditionally takes place on a weekend in July at the [300th Anniversary Park](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=300th_Anniversary_Park&action=edit&redlink=1 \"300th Anniversary Park (page does not exist)\") \\[[ru](https:\/\/ru.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%9F%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BA_%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8_300-%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%8F_%D0%A1%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BA%D1%82-%D0%9F%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B1%D1%83%D1%80%D0%B3%D0%B0 \"ru:Парк имени 300-летия Санкт-Петербурга\")\\] (Russian: Парк имени 300-летия Санкт-Петербурга) in St. Petersburg, Russia. According to data from the organizer, 70 thousand people attended the festival in 2016, with the number rising to 85 thousand attendees in 2017. In 2017, around 40 artists and groups performed on 3 stages, including [Little Big](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Little_Big_\$band\$ \"Little Big (band)\"), [The Hatters](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Hatters_\$band\$ \"The Hatters (band)\"), and others. Bloggers and other famous individuals, such as [Dmitry Grishin](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dmitry_Grishin \"Dmitry Grishin\"), [Timur Bekmambetov](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Timur_Bekmambetov \"Timur Bekmambetov\"), and [Mikhail Piotrovsky](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mikhail_Piotrovsky \"Mikhail Piotrovsky\") (speakers at the 2017 festival), are also an important part of the festival. More than 1.5 million people watched the festival's official live stream.[\\[105\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_note-105)\n\n- [Ambient awareness](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ambient_awareness \"Ambient awareness\")\n- [Cyworld](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cyworld \"Cyworld\")\n- [Facebook](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Facebook \"Facebook\")\n- [Internet in Russia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Internet_in_Russia \"Internet in Russia\")\n- [Myspace](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Myspace \"Myspace\")\n- [Qzone](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Qzone \"Qzone\")\n- [List of social networking websites](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_social_networking_websites \"List of social networking websites\")\n\n1. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-1)**\n   [\"Mail.ru Group Financial Statements 2016\"](https:\/\/corp.imgsmail.ru\/media\/files\/mail.rugrouparfy2016.pdf) (PDF). *Mail.ru*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20170708183906\/https:\/\/corp.imgsmail.ru\/media\/files\/mail.rugrouparfy2016.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 8 July 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017.\n2. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-2)**\n   [\"Во «ВКонтакте» появилась возможность редактировать отправленные сообщения\"](https:\/\/www.rbc.ru\/rbcfreenews\/5a1c084a9a794766e39a13ca). *rbc.ru*. [RBK Group](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/RBK_Group \"RBK Group\"). 27 November 2017. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20230709084550\/https:\/\/www.rbc.ru\/rbcfreenews\/5a1c084a9a794766e39a13ca) from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.\n3. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-3)**\n   [\"Social gaming: revenue in Russia 2010-2013 \\| Statistic\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20190821130139\/https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/205549\/social-gaming-revenue-forecast-in-russia\/). [Statista.com](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Statista.com \"Statista.com\"). Archived from [the original](https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/205549\/social-gaming-revenue-forecast-in-russia\/) on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2015.\n4. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-usercount_4-0)**\n   [\"List of VK users\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20200301164053\/https:\/\/vk.com\/catalog.php). Vk.com. Archived from [the original](http:\/\/vk.com\/catalog.php) on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2018.\n5. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-5)**\n   [\"Russia's Top Websites Ranking in November 2022 \\| Similarweb\"](https:\/\/www.similarweb.com\/top-websites\/russian-federation\/). *[Similarweb](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Similarweb \"Similarweb\")*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20220316054316\/https:\/\/www.similarweb.com\/top-websites\/russian-federation\/) from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.\n6. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-6)**\n   [\"Рада підтримала продовження заборони на російські соцмережі\"](https:\/\/www.rbc.ua\/ukr\/news\/rada-odobrila-prodlenie-zapreta-rossiyskie-1589387984.html). [RBC-Ukraine](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/RBC-Ukraine \"RBC-Ukraine\"). [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20210725072010\/https:\/\/www.rbc.ua\/ukr\/news\/rada-odobrila-prodlenie-zapreta-rossiyskie-1589387984.html) from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021.\n7. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-7)**\n   [\"Website Ranking\"](https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/trending-websites\/global\/all). [Semrush](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Semrush \"Semrush\"). [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20231219181830\/https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/trending-websites\/global\/all) from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2024.\n8. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-8)**\n   [\"The Kremlin's war on streaming: How Russia is moving to block YouTube and why its efforts may bring down the entire Runet\"](https:\/\/theins.ru\/en\/society\/273838). *The Insider* (in Russian). Retrieved 3 March 2025.\n9. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-9)**\n   Times, The Moscow (15 January 2025). [\"VKontakte Overtakes YouTube in Web Traffic for First Time in Russia\"](https:\/\/www.themoscowtimes.com\/2025\/01\/15\/vkontakte-overtakes-youtube-in-web-traffic-for-first-time-in-russia-a87616). *[The Moscow Times](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Moscow_Times \"The Moscow Times\")*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20250206220341\/https:\/\/www.themoscowtimes.com\/2025\/01\/15\/vkontakte-overtakes-youtube-in-web-traffic-for-first-time-in-russia-a87616) from the original on 6 February 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2025.\n10. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-10)**\n    Gutelle, Sam (15 January 2025). [\"Russia made it harder for citizens to watch YouTube. They're going to VKontakte instead\"](https:\/\/www.tubefilter.com\/2025\/01\/15\/russia-youtube-throttle-vkontakte-user-rise\/). *Tubefilter*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20250210231210\/https:\/\/www.tubefilter.com\/2025\/01\/15\/russia-youtube-throttle-vkontakte-user-rise\/) from the original on 10 February 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2025.\n11. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-11)**\n    Vlasova, Olga (2 October 2024). [\"Why are Russians struggling to access YouTube?\"](https:\/\/theloop.ecpr.eu\/why-are-russians-struggling-to-access-youtube\/). *The Loop*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20250403202948\/https:\/\/theloop.ecpr.eu\/why-are-russians-struggling-to-access-youtube\/) from the original on 3 April 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2025.\n12. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-svoboda_12-0)**\n    [Andrei Loshak](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Andrei_Loshak \"Andrei Loshak\") (16 October 2019). [\"История рунета. Бизнес: ОК, ВК и все-все-все\"](https:\/\/www.svoboda.org\/a\/30219424.html). *Радио Свобода* (in Russian). [Radio Free Europe\/Radio Liberty](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Radio_Free_Europe\/Radio_Liberty \"Radio Free Europe\/Radio Liberty\"). [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20240827080518\/https:\/\/www.svoboda.org\/a\/30219424.html) from the original on 27 August 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.\n13. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-koddurovaforbes_13-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-koddurovaforbes_13-1)\n    [\"Код Павла Дурова\"](https:\/\/www.forbes.ru\/ekonomika\/kompanii\/69666-kod-pavla-durova). *[Forbes](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Forbes \"Forbes\")* (in Russian). 24 June 2011. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20110627041221\/https:\/\/www.forbes.ru\/ekonomika\/kompanii\/69666-kod-pavla-durova) from the original on 27 June 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2024.\n14. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFriedrichsenM%C3%BChl-Benninghaus2013406_14-0)** [Friedrichsen & Mühl-Benninghaus 2013](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#CITEREFFriedrichsenM%C3%BChl-Benninghaus2013), p. 406.\n15. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-15)**\n    [\"Vkontakte Remains more popular than Facebook in Russia\"](http:\/\/www.mynewsdesk.com\/fi\/blog_posts\/vkontakte-remains-more-popular-than-facebook-in-russia-26403). *Mynewsdesk*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20180807220706\/http:\/\/www.mynewsdesk.com\/fi\/blog_posts\/vkontakte-remains-more-popular-than-facebook-in-russia-26403) from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.\n16. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-16)**\n    [\"VK.com New Interface, Design, Looks & Tips\"](http:\/\/www.mbgadget.com\/2016\/08\/vkcom-new-interface.html). [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20160918163711\/http:\/\/www.mbgadget.com\/2016\/08\/vkcom-new-interface.html) from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2016.\n17. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-17)** Supported are the formats: doc, docx, xls, xlsx, ppt, pptx, rtf, pdf, png, jpg, gif, psd, mp3, djvu, fb2, ps and archives containing these formats. Executable files and files over 200 Mb are not allowed. Video chat is also available (for users who allow incoming calls) since 2012.\n18. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-18)**\n    [\"Types of community pages\"](https:\/\/vk.com\/pages?oid=-59800369&p=%D0%92%D1%8B%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%80_%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B0_%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%89%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B0). *vk.com*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20200317235028\/https:\/\/vk.com\/pages?oid=-59800369&p=%D0%92%D1%8B%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%80_%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B0_%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%89%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B0) from the original on 17 March 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2018.\n19. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-19)**\n    [\"Vkontakte Music 2.0\"](https:\/\/vk.com\/blog\/vkmusic). *vk.com*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20170508111607\/https:\/\/vk.com\/blog\/vkmusic) from the original on 8 May 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2018.\n20. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-20)**\n    [\"Alexa - top sites in Russia\"](https:\/\/www.alexa.com\/topsites\/countries\/RU). Alexa.com. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20090403051929\/https:\/\/www.alexa.com\/topsites\/countries\/RU) from the original on 3 April 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2017.\n21. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-21)**\n    [\"Alexa - top sites in Belarus\"](https:\/\/www.alexa.com\/topsites\/countries\/BY). Alexa.com. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20090403040639\/https:\/\/www.alexa.com\/topsites\/countries\/BY) from the original on 3 April 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2017.\n22. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-22)**\n    [\"Alexa - top sites in Kazakhstan\"](https:\/\/www.alexa.com\/topsites\/countries\/KZ). Alexa.com. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20090403041732\/https:\/\/www.alexa.com\/topsites\/countries\/KZ) from the original on 3 April 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2017.\n23. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-23)**\n    [\"Alexa - top sites in Kyrgyzstan\"](https:\/\/www.alexa.com\/topsites\/countries\/KG). Alexa.com. 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[Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20220809202134\/https:\/\/vc.ru\/social\/4758-sf-final-aug?ysclid=l1z8qtexlb) from the original on 9 August 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.\n94. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-94)**\n    Константин Панфилов (16 October 2014). [\"Победителями конкурса стартапов Start Fellows от \"ВКонтакте\" стали HTML Academy и \"Попутчик\"\"](https:\/\/vc.ru\/social\/5376-sf-final-sep?ysclid=l1z8rfa155) (in Russian). VC.ru. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20220414165939\/https:\/\/vc.ru\/social\/5376-sf-final-sep?ysclid=l1z8rfa155) from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.\n95. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-95)**\n    [\"\"ВКонтакте\" назвала нового получателя гранта Start Fellows\"](https:\/\/www.the-village.ru\/business\/news\/160161-start-fellows?ysclid=l1z8pfp22g) (in Russian). The Village. 15 July 2014. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20220414165937\/https:\/\/www.the-village.ru\/business\/news\/160161-start-fellows?ysclid=l1z8pfp22g) from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.\n96. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-96)**\n    [\"Пробуждение с гарантией\"](https:\/\/www.kommersant.ru\/doc\/3368135) (in Russian). Kommersant. 11 June 2019. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20220414165940\/https:\/\/www.kommersant.ru\/doc\/3368135) from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.\n97. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-97)**\n    [\"Победители Start Fellows получили 2,5 млн рублей от ВКонтакте\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20180618175253\/https:\/\/www.ferra.ru\/ru\/techlife\/news\/2017\/12\/04\/vk-start-fellows-2017\/). Archived from [the original](https:\/\/www.ferra.ru\/ru\/techlife\/news\/2017\/12\/04\/vk-start-fellows-2017\/) on 18 June 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.\n98. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-98)**\n    [\"\"ВКонтакте\" назвали победителей VK Cup\"](https:\/\/tass.ru\/ekonomika\/9895089) (in Russian). Tass. 2 November 2020. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20220414170518\/https:\/\/tass.ru\/ekonomika\/9895089) from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.\n99. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-99)**\n    vc.ru, Редакция (27 July 2015). [\"Фоторепортаж: \"ВКонтакте\" провела второй чемпионат по программированию VK Cup 2015 — Соцсети на vc.ru\"](https:\/\/vc.ru\/social\/9534-vk-cup-2015). *vc.ru*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20181113025620\/https:\/\/vc.ru\/social\/9534-vk-cup-2015) from the original on 13 November 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.\n100. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-100)**\n     [\"VK Cup 2016 - Codeforces\"](http:\/\/codeforces.com\/vkcup2016). *Codeforces*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20160306005257\/http:\/\/codeforces.com\/vkcup2016) from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2018.\n101. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-101)**\n     [\"\"ВКонтакте\" выплатила 2,5 миллиона рублей призёрам VK Cup 2017\"](http:\/\/www.sobaka.ru\/city\/internet\/59533). *Собака.ru*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20181121020933\/http:\/\/www.sobaka.ru\/city\/internet\/59533) from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.\n102. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-intermedia.ru_102-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-intermedia.ru_102-1)\n     [\"\"ВКонтакте\" завершит год вручением своей первой музыкальной премии\"](http:\/\/www.intermedia.ru\/news\/318143). 15 December 2017. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20181028120626\/http:\/\/www.intermedia.ru\/news\/318143) from the original on 28 October 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.\n103. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-103)**\n     [\"VK Music: Listen to songs and music online for free \\| VK\"](https:\/\/vk.com\/music?z=video-147845620_456239019). [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20220311181802\/https:\/\/vk.com\/login?u=2&to=L2F1ZGlvPw--) from the original on 11 March 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2019.\n104. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-104)**\n     [\"В Москве прошла премия VK Music Awards. Были названы 30 главных треков года\"](https:\/\/the-flow.ru\/news\/vk-music-awards). *The-Flow.ru* (in Russian). [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20181204114857\/https:\/\/the-flow.ru\/news\/vk-music-awards) from the original on 4 December 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.\n105. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/VK_\$service\$#cite_ref-105)**\n     [\"В Петербурге на выходных пройдет третий VK Fest\"](https:\/\/rg.ru\/2017\/07\/14\/reg-szfo\/v-peterburge-na-vyhodnyh-projdet-tretij-vk-fest.html). *Российская газета* (in Russian). 14 July 2017. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20190307191538\/https:\/\/rg.ru\/2017\/07\/14\/reg-szfo\/v-peterburge-na-vyhodnyh-projdet-tretij-vk-fest.html) from the original on 7 March 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2018.\n\n- Friedrichsen, Mike; Mühl-Benninghaus, Wolfgang, eds. (2013). [*Handbook of Social Media Management*](https:\/\/books.google.com\/books?id=ETHak9WHJGAC&q=vkontakte). Berlin: Springer. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\$identifier\$ \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  \n  [978-3-642-28897-5](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/978-3-642-28897-5 \"Special:BookSources\/978-3-642-28897-5\")\n  \n  .","meta_canonical":null}

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URL	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_(service)
Last Crawled	2026-04-12 04:02:02 (1 day ago)
First Indexed	2018-12-01 21:15:10 (7 years ago)
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Boilerpipe Text	VK Screenshot Type of site Social networking service Available in 86 languages Founded 10 October 2006 ; 19 years ago in Saint Petersburg , Russia Area served Worldwide; the majority of its users are in the former USSR or in the CIS Created by Pavel Durov , Nikolai Durov CEO Vladimir Kiriyenko Revenue 42.751 ₽ billion (2016) [ 1 ] Parent VK URL vk .com Registration Required Launched 10 October 2006 ; 19 years ago Current status Active VK (short for its original name VKontakte ; Russian : ВКонтакте , lit. ' InContact ' ) is a Russian online social media and social networking service based in Saint Petersburg . VK is available in multiple languages but it is predominantly used by Russian speakers . VK users can message each other publicly or privately, edit messages, [ 2 ] create groups , public pages, and events; share and tag images, audio, and video ; and play browser-based games . [ 3 ] As of August 2018 , VK had at least 500 million accounts. [ 4 ] As of November 2022, it was the sixth most popular website in Russia. [ 5 ] The network was also popular in Ukraine until it was banned by the Supreme Council in 2017. [ 6 ] According to Semrush , in 2024, VK was the 30th most visited website in the world ; [ 7 ] as YouTube is subject to blocking in Russia , [ 8 ] VK Video overtook Google 's top position in monthly web traffic for the first time in December 2024, [ 9 ] as part of the major substitution to domestic business. [ 10 ] [ 11 ] Number of Registered users (millions) on VKontakte between 2006 and 2012 Pavel Durov , the founder of VKontakte, on his 26th birthday, 10 October 2010 VKontakte was conceived in 2006 when Pavel Durov , creator of the popular student forum spbgu.ru , met his former classmate Vyacheslav Mirilashvili in St. Petersburg after graduating from the Faculty of Philology at St Petersburg State University . Vyacheslav showed Durov the increasingly popular Facebook , after which the friends decided to create a new Russian social network. Lev Leviev , an Israeli classmate of Vyacheslav Mirilashivili, became the third co-founder. Vyacheslav Mirilashvili borrowed the money from his billionaire father and became the largest shareholder. Lev Leviev took over operational management, and Durov became CEO. Pavel Durov convinced his older brother Nikolai , a multiple winner of international math and programming competitions, to develop the site. [ 12 ] [ 13 ] Durov launched VKontakte for beta testing in September 2006. The following month, the domain name Vkontakte.ru was registered. [ 14 ] The new project was incorporated on 19 January 2007 as a Russian private limited company. In February 2007 the site reached a user base of over 100,000 and was recognized as the second largest company in Russia's nascent social network market. In the same month, the site was subjected to a severe DDoS attack, which briefly put it offline. The user base reached 1 million in July 2007, and 10 million in April 2008. In December 2008 VK overtook rival Odnoklassniki as Russia's most popular social networking service. [ 15 ] VK logo before 2015 Similar to many social networks, the platform's fundamental features revolve around private messaging, sharing photos, posting status updates, and exchanging links with friends. VK also provides tools for administering online communities and managing celebrity pages. The site allows its users to upload, search and stream media content, such as videos and music. VK features an advanced search engine, that allows complex queries for finding friends, as well as a real-time news search. VK updated its features and design in April 2016. [ 16 ] Messaging . VK Private Messages can be exchanged between groups of 2 to 500 people. An email address can also be specified as the recipient. Each message may contain up to 10 attachments: Photos, Videos, Audio Files, Maps (an embedded map with a manually placed marker), and Documents. [ 17 ] News . VK users can post on their profile walls, each post may contain up to 10 attachments – media files, maps, and documents (see above). User mentions and hashtags are supported. In the case of multiple photo attachments, the previews are automatically scaled and arranged in a magazine-style layout. The news feed can be switched between all news (default) and most interesting modes. The site features a news-recommendation engine, global real-time search, and individual search for posts and comments on specific users' walls. Communities . VK features three types of communities. Groups are better suited for decentralized communities (discussion boards, wiki-style articles, editable by all members, etc.). Public pages is a news feed-orientated broadcasting tool for celebrities and businesses. The two types are largely interchangeable, the main difference being in the default settings. The third type of community is called Events , which are used for appropriately organizing concerts and events in an appropriate way. [ 18 ] Like button on VK (Russian version) Like buttons . VK like buttons for posts, comments, media, and external sites operate differently from Facebook. Liked content doesn't get automatically pushed to the user's wall, but is saved in the private Favorites section instead. The user has to press a second 'share with friends' button to share an item on their wall or send it via private message to a friend. Privacy . Users can control the availability of their content within the network and on the Internet. Blanket and granular privacy settings are available for pages and individual content. Synchronization with other social networks . Any news published on the VK wall will appear on Facebook or Twitter . Certain news may not be published by clicking on the logo next to the "Send" button. Editing a post in VK does not change the post in Facebook or Twitter and vice versa. However, removing the news in VK will remove it from other social networks. SMS service . Russian users can receive and reply to a private message or leave a comment for community news using SMS. Music. Users have access to the audio files uploaded by other users. In addition, users can upload the audio files themselves, create playlists and share audios with others by attaching to messages and wall posts. The uploaded audio files cannot violate copyright laws. [ 19 ] As of May 2017, according to Alexa Internet ranking, VK is one of the most visited websites in some Eurasian countries. It is: 4th most visited in Russia; [ 20 ] 3rd most visited in Belarus ; [ 21 ] 6th most visited in Kazakhstan ; [ 22 ] 8th most visited in Kyrgyzstan [ 23 ] and Moldova ; [ 24 ] 12th most visited in Latvia . [ 25 ] It was the fourth most viewed site in Ukraine until, in May 2017, the Ukrainian government banned the use of VK in Ukraine. [ 26 ] According to a study for May 2018 conducted by Factum Group Ukraine VK remained the fourth most viewed site in Ukraine, but Facebook was twice as much visited. [ 27 ] For 2019, VK appeared as the most visited social network in Ukraine according to Alexa. [ 28 ] According to the Internet Association of Ukraine the share of Ukrainian Internet users who visit VK daily had fallen from 54% to 10% from September 2016 to September 2019. [ 29 ] They also claimed in November 2019 that Facebook was the most popular social network. [ 29 ] VK was expected to gain most of the users lost by Facebook and Instagram after they were blocked in Russia in 2022, according to a Calltouch poll. [ 30 ] The headquarters of VK on the Nevsky Avenue in Saint Petersburg ( Singer House ) Initially, founder and CEO Pavel Durov owned 20% of shares (although he had majority voting power through proxy votes), and a trio of Russian-Israeli investors Yitzchak Mirilashvili , his father Mikhael Mirilashvili , and Lev Leviev [ 31 ] owned 60%, 10%, and 10% respectively. [ 32 ] In 2007, Digital Sky Technologies, an investment company managed by Yuri Milner , acquired a total of 24.99% of the shares from shareholders, investing $16.3 million. [ 13 ] In preparation for the IPO in September 2010, DST separated international and Russian assets: the former formed the DST Global fund, while the latter, including VKontakte and rival social network Odnoklassniki , were merged into Mail.ru Group . Mail.ru Group used part of the money to acquire 7.5% of the social network for $112.5 million at a valuation of the entire project of 1.5 billion dollars. After exercising a 7.5% option in July 2011 for $111.7 million, Mail.ru Group accumulated a 39.99% stake in VKontakte. [ 33 ] [ 34 ] [ 35 ] The head of Mail.ru Group, Dmitry Grishin , voiced the company's intention to gain 100% control over VKontakte. MRG was discussing with shareholders to buy out shares from the valuation of the entire company in $2-3 billion. In the summer of 2011, Mirilashvili and Leviev were ready to accept in payment owned by Mail.ru Group shares of Facebook, Groupon , and Zynga , but the deal failed due to Durov's unwillingness to sell a stake on MRG terms. Later, the co-founders considered VKontakte's IPO as an alternative. In March 2012, Durov "accidentally" became plugged into the negotiations where Mirilashvili and Leviev discussed selling their stakes directly to Mail.ru Group's main investor, Alisher Usmanov . On the same day, Durov deleted the pages of the first co-investors, stopped contacting them, and soon announced that VKontakte would postpone its IPO indefinitely. [ 33 ] [ 36 ] On 29 May 2012, Mail.ru Group announced its decision to yield control of the company to Durov by offering him the voting rights on its shares. Combined with Durov's personal 12% stake, this gave him 52% of the votes. [ 37 ] [ 38 ] In April 2013, the Mirilashvili family sold its 40% share in VK to United Capital Partners for $1.12 billion, [ 39 ] [ 40 ] while Lev Leviev sold his 8% share in the same deal, giving United Capital Partners 48% ownership. In January 2014, VK's founder Pavel Durov sold his 12% stake in the company to Ivan Tavrin , the CEO of MegaFon , which is controlled by Alisher Usmanov . Following the deal, Usmanov and his allies controlled around 52% of the company. [ 41 ] Shortly thereafter, the CEO of Megafon, sold his 12% stake to Mail.ru, thus allowing Mail.ru to consolidate its controlling stake of 52% in VK. [ 42 ] On 1 April 2014, Durov submitted his resignation to the board; at first, due to the fact the company confirmed he had resigned, it was believed to be related to the Russo-Ukrainian War which began in the previous February. [ 43 ] However, Durov himself claimed it was an April Fool's Joke on 3 April 2014. [ 44 ] [ 45 ] On 21 April 2014, Durov was dismissed as CEO, claiming he failed to withdraw his letter of resignation a month earlier. [ 46 ] [ 47 ] Durov then claimed the company had been effectively taken over by Vladimir Putin 's political faction, [ 46 ] [ 48 ] suggesting his dismissal was the result of both his refusal to hand over personal details of users to federal law enforcement and his refusal to hand over the personal details of people who were members of a VKontakte group dedicated to the Euromaidan protest movement. [ 46 ] [ 48 ] Durov then left Russia and stated that he had "no plans to go back" [ 48 ] and that "the country is incompatible with Internet business at the moment". [ 47 ] On 16 September 2014, the Mail.ru group bought the remaining 48% stake of VK from United Capital Partners (UCP) [ 49 ] for $1.5 billion, [ 49 ] thus becoming the sole proprietor of the social network. [ 50 ] In December 2021, Russian state-owned bank Gazprombank and insurance company Sogaz bought out 57.3% of VK shares, thus becoming the holders of the company's controlling interest . [ 51 ] [ 52 ] In 2008, the TV channel Russia-1 and its owner VGTRK sued VK over unlicensed uploads of two of its films by VK users. In 2010, this dispute was settled by the Russian High Arbitration Court in favour of the social network. The court ruled that VK is not responsible for its users’ copyright violations, taking into account that both parties agreed with the technical possibility to identify the user who posted illegal content and who, consequently, must incur the liability. [ 53 ] Another ruling early in 2012 went partially in favor of Gala Records (now Warner Music Russia) , a recording studio, when the same court ordered VK to pay $7000 for not being active enough in regard to copyrighted materials. [ 54 ] Efforts against copyright infringement [ edit ] VK offers a content removal tool for copyright holders. [ 55 ] [ 56 ] Large-scale copyright holders may gain access to bulk content removal tools. [ 57 ] Since 2010, VK has also entered several partnerships with legal content providers such as television networks. [ 58 ] and streaming providers. [ 59 ] Most notably, the Video on Demand provider Ivi.ru that has secured licensing rights with all Hollywood majors in 2012. [ 60 ] These partnerships allow providers to remove user-uploaded content from VK and substitute it with legal embedded copies from the provider's site. [ 61 ] This legal content can be either ad-sponsored, subscription-based, or free, depending on the provider's choices. VK does not display its own advertising in the site's music or video sections, nor in the videos themselves. In October 2013, VKontakte was cleared of copyright infringement charges by a court in Saint Petersburg . The judge ruled that the social network is not responsible for the content uploaded by its users. [ 62 ] In November 2014, the head of the Roskomnadzor , Maxim Ksenzov , said that VKontakte would complete the process of legalization of the content at the beginning of 2015. At that time (November 2014), negotiations between major label companies and the social network VKontakte were ongoing. [ 63 ] DDoS attacks on sites [ edit ] Because the social network is one of the most popular and visited sites in runet , its visits can be used to make DDoS attacks on smaller sites. VK performed DDOS attacks on certain sites, making users' browsers send multiple requests to the target site without their consent. The targets were the Runet Prize voting page in 2008 [ 64 ] and the CAPTCHA -solving service antigate.com in 2012. [ 65 ] [ 66 ] It was done by inserting an iframe and a piece of JavaScript code which periodically reloaded the iframe. As a countermeasure, antigate was detecting whether iframe was loaded from VK and if it were antigate had redirected request to xHamster , a pornography website . VK needed to cease the attack due to the site's use by children. VK tried to use XMLHttpRequest to solve this problem, but had forgotten about the same-origin policy . They succeeded in stopping the attack, though there were many ways to solve the problem with redirect [ original research? ] . Durov was dismissed as CEO in April 2014 after he had failed to retract a letter of resignation. Durov contended that the resignation letter was an April fools prank. [ 46 ] Durov then claimed Vladimir Putin's allies had, in effect, taken over the company, [ 46 ] [ 48 ] [ 67 ] and suggested his ousting was the result of his refusal to hand over personal details of users to the Russian Federal Security Service and his refusal to shut down a VK group dedicated to anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny . [ 46 ] [ 48 ] On 24 May 2013, it was reported in the media that the site had been mistakenly put on a list of websites banned by the Russian government. [ 68 ] Some critics have accused the blacklist as the latest in a series of suspicious incidents to have happened to the website in recent months as a way for the Russian government to increase their stake in, and control of the site. [ 69 ] On 18 November 2013, following an order from the Court of Rome , VK was blocked in Italy after a complaint from Medusa Film stating that it was hosting an illegal copy of one of its films. [ 70 ] However, in April 2015, the site was reopened for Italian users and its mobile app is available on both the App Store and Google Play . [ citation needed ] In January 2016, China banned VKontakte, claiming that it was manipulating web content and cooperating with the Kremlin. According to Russia's media watchdog , the network estimates around 300,000 users based in China. [ 71 ] As of 14 February 2018, China authorities unblocked VKontakte and it was fully accessible in the country. [ 72 ] In May 2017, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed a decree to impose a ban on Mail.ru and its widely used social networks including VKontakte and Odnoklassniki as part of its continued sanctions on Russia for its annexation of Crimea and involvement in the war in Donbas . [ 26 ] [ 73 ] [ 74 ] Reporters Without Borders condemned the ban, calling it a "disproportionate measure that seriously undermines the Ukrainian people's right to information and freedom of expression." [ 75 ] VK closed its office in Ukraine's capital Kyiv in June 2017. [ 76 ] In December 2021, VKontakte's CEO, Boris Dobrodeev resigned from his post. Reuters linked Dobrodeev's resignation to the acquisition of VK's majority interest by two state-owned companies that happened the same month. According to one analyst, the state consolidation of VKontakte would cause greater censorship by the government. [ 77 ] On 12 May 2022, in connection with the sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU), NEPLP decided to limit the activity of "VKontakte" ("vk.com"), "Odnoklassniki" ("ok.ru") and "Moy Mir" ("my.mail.ru") social medias in Latvia . The decision was made because NEPLP has evidence that the platforms are owned and controlled by Yury Kovalchuk and Vladimir Kiriyenko . The mentioned persons are subject to EU sanctions in connection with undermining the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. [ 78 ] After the Russian military invasion of Ukraine , on 26 September 2022, the VK application (as well as other applications of the holding services) was removed from the Apple App Store due to international sanctions . [ 79 ] [ 80 ] On 28 September, the Russian communications regulator Roskomnadzor issued a statement demanding an explanation for the removal of the VK application from the App Store. [ 81 ] CEO Vladimir Kiriyenko was sanctioned by the United States, India, Canada, United Kingdom, European Union, Japan, Australia and various countries. [ 82 ] Prosecution of users in Russia [ edit ] In July 2012, VKontakte was accused of close cooperation with the Centre for Combating Extremism (Centre E) , a unit within the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs heavily criticized for repressing opposition activists. [ 83 ] [ 84 ] For publications, reposts, comments and likes posted on their VKontakte pages, dozens of Russian citizens were sentenced to fines, suspended sentences and imprisonment. Most of the cases against users are qualified as propaganda of extremism, xenophobia and Nazism. Statistically, among all the social networking services available in Russia, the users of VKontakte were targeted by police almost exclusively. [ 85 ] [ 86 ] Events and projects [ edit ] Automated workplace of a civil servant [ edit ] By 2023, on the basis of VK, the “Automated workplace of a civil servant” (АРМ ГС in Russian) was developed, to which it is planned to transfer all Russian civil servants. AWP includes mail, calendar, cloud storage, instant messenger, supports audio and video calls. It should replace Telegram, WhatsApp, Gmail, Google Docs, Zoom and Skype widely used in Russia. Thus, the Russian government intends to exclude foreign services from the public administration system. Officials were supposed to switch to "Automated workplace" from May 1, 2023. [ 87 ] In June 2023, the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media announced a competition for software developers to "scale" the workspace and provide the necessary level of cryptographic protection. It is planned to spend 9 million rubles on the project. [ 88 ] VK organized their first 24-hour Hackathon in 2015 from 31 October to 1 November. The participants were invited to develop projects united by a common idea: “Make it Simple!” (Russian: «Упрощайте!»). 34 teams took part in the competition. A prize pool of 300 thousand rubles was split among the winners. [ 89 ] The second VK Hackathon took place from 26 to 27 November 2016. The participants developed projects for the community app platform. The “Search for Lost Cats” (Russian: «Поиск пропавших котиков») app won the “Developers’ Choice” category. The prize pool for the event was 300 thousand rubles. [ 90 ] The third VK Hackathon took place from 20 to 22 October 2017 with 320 participants competing in the event. The prize pool was one million rubles. An application designed to help users navigate the State Hermitage Museum won the “Culture” category. [ 91 ] In 2011, Pavel Durov and Yuri Milner created Start Fellows, a grant program founded to support projects in the field of technology. [ 92 ] In 2014, VK took over the Start Fellows program and made it more systematic. The grant was provided to 3 companies each month and included project consultation from VK along with 25 thousand rubles a month for advertisement on the VK platform. Winners of the grant include “University Schedules” (Russian: «Расписание вузов»), a scheduling app, LiveCamDroid, a mobile streaming service, HTML Academy, an educational project, and others. [ 93 ] [ 94 ] [ 95 ] [ 96 ] VK re-launched the project in 2017. Only active projects with an earnings model could submit applications. 327 grant applications were received but only 67 of them passed the initial screening. The total prize pool was 2.5 million rubles. [ 97 ] The first VK Cup, a programming championship for young programmers aged 13–23, was held on 16 July 2012 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. [ 98 ] VK and Codeforces co-organized the second VK Cup programming championship, which took place from 24 to 27 July 2015. The winners received a total of 1,048,576 or 2 20 rubles (an amount related to round binary numbers). [ 99 ] The third VK Cup took place from 1 to 4 July 2016 and had a prize pool of 2.5 million rubles. [ 100 ] VK and Codeforces co-organized the fourth VK Cup which took place from 8 to 9 July 2017. Teams from 52 countries applied to take part in the competition. The prize pool for the competition was 2.5 million rubles. [ 101 ] The first VK Music Awards ceremony took place on 25 December 2017. The VK Music Awards were produced by Timur Bekmambetov and the Bazelevs Company with Pavel Volya hosting the event. [ 102 ] The awards ceremony was held in the form of an online live stream. [ 103 ] Any VK user could watch the broadcast live. After the ceremony, a private concert was held in the Vegas City Hall in Moscow. Tickets to the event could be won through a contest held in the VK Music community. [ 102 ] VK Music Awards winners were determined by the number of plays an artist's song got on VK and the BOOM app. The names of the 30 award winners were published on the official VK Music Awards community page and on the BOOM app website. “Rosé Wine” ( Allj and Feduk ), “Lambada” ( T-Fest and Scriptonite ), and “My Half” ( MiyaGi and Endspiel [ ru ] ) topped the list of most listened to songs. The official pages of all award winners have been marked with a special symbol. [ 104 ] Since 2015, VK has held a yearly 2-day open-air music and entertainment festival. This festival traditionally takes place on a weekend in July at the 300th Anniversary Park [ ru ] (Russian: Парк имени 300-летия Санкт-Петербурга) in St. Petersburg, Russia. According to data from the organizer, 70 thousand people attended the festival in 2016, with the number rising to 85 thousand attendees in 2017. In 2017, around 40 artists and groups performed on 3 stages, including Little Big , The Hatters , and others. Bloggers and other famous individuals, such as Dmitry Grishin , Timur Bekmambetov , and Mikhail Piotrovsky (speakers at the 2017 festival), are also an important part of the festival. More than 1.5 million people watched the festival's official live stream. [ 105 ] Ambient awareness Cyworld Facebook Internet in Russia Myspace Qzone List of social networking websites ^ "Mail.ru Group Financial Statements 2016" (PDF) . Mail.ru . Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 July 2017 . Retrieved 26 August 2017 . ^ "Во «ВКонтакте» появилась возможность редактировать отправленные сообщения" . rbc.ru . RBK Group . 27 November 2017. Archived from the original on 9 July 2023 . Retrieved 13 September 2023 . ^ "Social gaming: revenue in Russia 2010-2013 \| Statistic" . Statista.com . Archived from the original on 21 August 2019 . Retrieved 23 February 2015 . ^ "List of VK users" . Vk.com. 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Markdown	[Jump to content](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#bodyContent) Main menu Main menu move to sidebar hide Navigation - [Main page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page "Visit the main page [z]") - [Contents](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents "Guides to browsing Wikipedia") - [Current events](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Current_events "Articles related to current events") - [Random article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random "Visit a randomly selected article [x]") - [About Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:About "Learn about Wikipedia and how it works") - [Contact us](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contact_us "How to contact Wikipedia") Contribute - [Help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Contents "Guidance on how to use and edit Wikipedia") - [Learn to edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Introduction "Learn how to edit Wikipedia") - [Community portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Community_portal "The hub for editors") - [Recent changes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:RecentChanges "A list of recent changes to Wikipedia [r]") - [Upload file](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:File_upload_wizard "Add images or other media for use on Wikipedia") - [Special pages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:SpecialPages "A list of all special pages [q]") [![](https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/icons/enwiki-25.svg) ![Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-wordmark-en-25.svg) ![The Free Encyclopedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-tagline-en-25.svg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page) [Search](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search "Search Wikipedia [f]") Appearance - [Donate](https://donate.wikimedia.org/?wmf_source=donate&wmf_medium=sidebar&wmf_campaign=en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en) - [Create account](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=VK+%28service%29 "You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory") - [Log in](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=VK+%28service%29 "You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [o]") Personal tools - [Donate](https://donate.wikimedia.org/?wmf_source=donate&wmf_medium=sidebar&wmf_campaign=en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en) - [Create account](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=VK+%28service%29 "You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory") - [Log in](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=VK+%28service%29 "You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [o]") ## Contents move to sidebar hide - [(Top)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$) - [1 History](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#History) - [2 Website](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#Website) Toggle Website subsection - [2\.1 Features](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#Features) - [2\.2 Popularity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#Popularity) - [3 Ownership](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#Ownership) - [4 Controversies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#Controversies) Toggle Controversies subsection - [4\.1 Copyright issues](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#Copyright_issues) - [4\.1.1 Litigation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#Litigation) - [4\.1.2 Efforts against copyright infringement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#Efforts_against_copyright_infringement) - [4\.2 DDoS attacks on sites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#DDoS_attacks_on_sites) - [4\.3 Durov's dismissal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#Durov's_dismissal) - [5 Censorship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#Censorship) - [6 Prosecution of users in Russia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#Prosecution_of_users_in_Russia) - [7 Events and projects](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#Events_and_projects) Toggle Events and projects subsection - [7\.1 Automated workplace of a civil servant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#Automated_workplace_of_a_civil_servant) - [7\.2 Hackathons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#Hackathons) - [7\.3 Start Fellows](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#Start_Fellows) - [7\.4 VK Cup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#VK_Cup) - [7\.5 VK Music Awards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#VK_Music_Awards) - [7\.6 VK Fest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#VK_Fest) - [8 See also](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#See_also) - [9 References](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#References) - [10 Literature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#Literature) - [11 External links](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#External_links) Toggle the table of contents # VK (service) 78 languages - [Afrikaans](https://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$sosiale_netwerk$ "VK (sosiale netwerk) – Afrikaans") - [Алтай тил](https://alt.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%92%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 "ВКонтакте – Southern Altai") - [العربية](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%81%D9%83%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%83%D8%AA%D9%8A "فكونتاكتي – Arabic") - [مصرى](https://arz.wikipedia.org/wiki/%DA%A4%D9%89_%D9%83%D9%8A%D9%87_$%D8%AE%D8%AF%D9%85%D9%87$ "ڤى كيه (خدمه) – Egyptian Arabic") - [Azərbaycanca](https://az.wikipedia.org/wiki/VKontakte "VKontakte – Azerbaijani") - [Башҡортса](https://ba.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%92%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 "ВКонтакте – Bashkir") - [Беларуская (тарашкевіца)](https://be-tarask.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A3_%D0%9A%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%86%D0%B5 "У Кантакце – Belarusian (Taraškievica orthography)") - [Беларуская](https://be.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK "VK – Belarusian") - [Български](https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%92%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 "ВКонтакте – Bulgarian") - [বাংলা](https://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%AD%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87 "ভিকে – Bangla") - [Bosanski](https://bs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vk.com "Vk.com – Bosnian") - [Català](https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK "VK – Catalan") - [Čeština](https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$soci%C3%A1ln%C3%AD_s%C3%AD%C5%A5$ "VK (sociální síť) – Czech") - [Словѣньскъ / ⰔⰎⰑⰂⰡⰐⰠⰔⰍⰟ](https://cu.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%92%D1%8A%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D1%94 "ВъКонтактє – Church Slavic") - [Чӑвашла](https://cv.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0 "Контактра – Chuvash") - [Deutsch](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vk.com "Vk.com – German") - [Ελληνικά](https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/VKontakte "VKontakte – Greek") - [Esperanto](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/VKontakte "VKontakte – Esperanto") - [Español](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK "VK – Spanish") - [Eesti](https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/VKontakte "VKontakte – Estonian") - [Euskara](https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK "VK – Basque") - [فارسی](https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%88%DB%8C%E2%80%8C%DA%A9%DB%8C "وی‌کی – Persian") - [Suomi](https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$sosiaalinen_verkosto$ "VK (sosiaalinen verkosto) – Finnish") - [Français](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/VKontakte "VKontakte – French") - [Galego](https://gl.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK "VK – Galician") - [עברית](https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK "VK – Hebrew") - [Hrvatski](https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vkontakte "Vkontakte – Croatian") - [Magyar](https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$k%C3%B6z%C3%B6ss%C3%A9gi_oldal$ "VK (közösségi oldal) – Hungarian") - [Հայերեն](https://hy.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D5%8E%D4%BF "ՎԿ – Armenian") - [Bahasa Indonesia](https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$jejaring_sosial$ "VK (jejaring sosial) – Indonesian") - [Ido](https://io.wikipedia.org/wiki/VKontakte "VKontakte – Ido") - [Italiano](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/VKontakte "VKontakte – Italian") - [日本語](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%82%BF%E3%82%AF%E3%83%86 "フコンタクテ – Japanese") - [ქართული](https://ka.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$%E1%83%A1%E1%83%94%E1%83%A0%E1%83%95%E1%83%98%E1%83%A1%E1%83%98$ "VK (სერვისი) – Georgian") - [Qaraqalpaqsha](https://kaa.wikipedia.org/wiki/VKontakte "VKontakte – Kara-Kalpak") - [Taqbaylit](https://kab.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vk "Vk – Kabyle") - [Қазақша](https://kk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%92%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 "ВКонтакте – Kazakh") - [한국어](https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$%EC%86%8C%EC%85%9C_%EB%84%A4%ED%8A%B8%EC%9B%8C%ED%81%AC$ "VK (소셜 네트워크) – Korean") - [Кыргызча](https://ky.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%92%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 "ВКонтакте – Kyrgyz") - [Lëtzebuergesch](https://lb.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vk.com "Vk.com – Luxembourgish") - [Lietuvių](https://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/VKontakte "VKontakte – Lithuanian") - [Latviešu](https://lv.wikipedia.org/wiki/VKontakte "VKontakte – Latvian") - [Олык марий](https://mhr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%92%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 "ВКонтакте – Eastern Mari") - [Македонски](https://mk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%92%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 "Вконтакте – Macedonian") - [Bahasa Melayu](https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$rangkaian_sosial$ "VK (rangkaian sosial) – Malay") - [Эрзянь](https://myv.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%92%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 "Вконтакте – Erzya") - [नेपाली](https://ne.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%87_$%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B2$ "भिके (सामाजिक सञ्जाल) – Nepali") - [Nederlands](https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$sociaal_netwerk$ "VK (sociaal netwerk) – Dutch") - [Norsk nynorsk](https://nn.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK "VK – Norwegian Nynorsk") - [Norsk bokmål](https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK "VK – Norwegian Bokmål") - [Occitan](https://oc.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK "VK – Occitan") - [Ирон](https://os.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vk.com "Vk.com – Ossetic") - [Polski](https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK "VK – Polish") - [Português](https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK "VK – Portuguese") - [Runa Simi](https://qu.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK "VK – Quechua") - [Română](https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/VKontakte "VKontakte – Romanian") - [Русский](https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%92%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 "ВКонтакте – Russian") - [Саха тыла](https://sah.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%92_%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 "В Контакте – Yakut") - [Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски](https://sh.wikipedia.org/wiki/VKontakte "VKontakte – Serbo-Croatian") - [Slovenčina](https://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/VKontakte "VKontakte – Slovak") - [Српски / srpski](https://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%92K%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 "ВKонтакте – Serbian") - [Svenska](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK "VK – Swedish") - [Тоҷикӣ](https://tg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%92%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 "ВКонтакте – Tajik") - [Türkmençe](https://tk.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK.com "VK.com – Turkmen") - [Tolışi](https://tly.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vkontakte "Vkontakte – Talysh") - [Türkçe](https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK "VK – Turkish") - [Татарча / tatarça](https://tt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vk.com "Vk.com – Tatar") - [Тыва дыл](https://tyv.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%92%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 "ВКонтакте – Tuvinian") - [Удмурт](https://udm.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%92%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 "ВКонтакте – Udmurt") - [Українська](https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$%D1%81%D0%BE%D1%86%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B6%D0%B0$ "VK (соцмережа) – Ukrainian") - [Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча](https://uz.wikipedia.org/wiki/VKontakte "VKontakte – Uzbek") - [Vepsän kel’](https://vep.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vk.com "Vk.com – Veps") - [Tiếng Việt](https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/VKontakte "VKontakte – Vietnamese") - [吴语](https://wuu.wikipedia.org/wiki/VKontakte "VKontakte – Wu") - [მარგალური](https://xmf.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%92%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B5 "ВКонтакте – Mingrelian") - [文言](https://zh-classical.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%AB%E8%82%AF%E5%A1%94%E5%85%8B%E7%89%B9 "夫肯塔克特 – Literary Chinese") - [粵語](https://zh-yue.wikipedia.org/wiki/VKontakte "VKontakte – Cantonese") - [中文](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/VKontakte "VKontakte – Chinese") [Edit links](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q116933#sitelinks-wikipedia "Edit interlanguage links") - [Article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$ "View the content page [c]") - [Talk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:VK_$service$ "Discuss improvements to the content page [t]") English - [Read](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$) - [Edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit "Edit this page [e]") - [View history](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=history "Past revisions of this page [h]") Tools Tools move to sidebar hide Actions - [Read](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$) - [Edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit "Edit this page [e]") - [View history](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=history) General - [What links here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:WhatLinksHere/VK_$service$ "List of all English Wikipedia pages containing links to this page [j]") - [Related changes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:RecentChangesLinked/VK_$service$ "Recent changes in pages linked from this page [k]") - [Upload file](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:File_Upload_Wizard "Upload files [u]") - [Permanent link](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&oldid=1347524358 "Permanent link to this revision of this page") - [Page information](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=info "More information about this page") - [Cite this page](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:CiteThisPage&page=VK_%28service%29&id=1347524358&wpFormIdentifier=titleform "Information on how to cite this page") - [Get shortened URL](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:UrlShortener&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FVK_%28service%29) Print/export - [Download as PDF](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:DownloadAsPdf&page=VK_%28service%29&action=show-download-screen "Download this page as a PDF file") - [Printable version](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&printable=yes "Printable version of this page [p]") In other projects - [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Vkontakte) - [Wikidata item](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q116933 "Structured data on this page hosted by Wikidata [g]") Appearance move to sidebar hide From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Russian social media and social networking service \| \| \| \|---\|---\| \| [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/VK_Full_Logo_%282021-present%29.svg/250px-VK_Full_Logo_%282021-present%29.svg.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:VK_Full_Logo_$2021-present$.svg) \| \| \| Screenshot [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/VK%27s_home_page_%28February_2026%29.png/330px-VK%27s_home_page_%28February_2026%29.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:VK%27s_home_page_$February_2026$.png) \| \| \| Type of site \| [Social networking service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_networking_service "Social networking service") \| \| Available in \| 86 languages \| \| Founded \| 10 October 2006; 19 years ago (2006-10-10) in [Saint Petersburg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Petersburg "Saint Petersburg"), Russia \| \| Area served \| Worldwide; the majority of its users are in the former [USSR](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USSR "USSR") or in the [CIS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Independent_States "Commonwealth of Independent States") \| \| Created by \| [Pavel Durov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavel_Durov "Pavel Durov"), [Nikolai Durov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolai_Durov "Nikolai Durov") \| \| CEO \| [Vladimir Kiriyenko](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Kiriyenko "Vladimir Kiriyenko") \| \| [Revenue](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenue "Revenue") \| 42\.751 [₽](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_ruble "Russian ruble") billion (2016)[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-1) \| \| [Parent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holding_company "Holding company") \| [VK](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$company$ "VK (company)") \| \| URL \| [vk.com](http://vk.com/) \| \| Registration \| Required \| \| Launched \| 10 October 2006; 19 years ago (2006-10-10) \| \| Current status \| Active \| VK (short for its original name *VKontakte; [Russian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_language "Russian language"): ВКонтакте, [lit.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literal_translation "Literal translation")'InContact') is a Russian online [social media](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media "Social media") and [social networking service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_networking_service "Social networking service") based in [Saint Petersburg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Petersburg "Saint Petersburg"). VK is available in multiple languages but it is predominantly used by [Russian speakers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russophone "Russophone"). VK users can message each other publicly or privately, edit messages,[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-2) create [groups](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_$online_social_networking$ "Group (online social networking)"), public pages, and events; share and tag images, audio, and [video](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_video_platform "Online video platform"); and play [browser-based games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browser_game "Browser game").[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-3) As of August 2018[\[update\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit), VK had at least 500 million accounts.[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-usercount-4) As of November 2022, it was the sixth most popular website in Russia.[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-5) The network was also popular in [Ukraine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine "Ukraine") until it was banned by the [Supreme Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verkhovna_Rada "Verkhovna Rada") in 2017.[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-6) According to [Semrush](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semrush "Semrush"), in 2024, VK was the 30th [most visited website in the world](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most-visited_websites "List of most-visited websites");[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-7) as [YouTube](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube "YouTube") is [subject to blocking in Russia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_censorship_in_Russia "Internet censorship in Russia"),[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-8) VK Video overtook [Google](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google "Google")'s top position in monthly web traffic for the first time in December 2024,[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-9) as part of the major substitution to domestic business.[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-10)[\[11\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-11) ## History \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=1 "Edit section: History")\] [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/VKontakte_Number_of_Registered_users_120224.png/250px-VKontakte_Number_of_Registered_users_120224.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:VKontakte_Number_of_Registered_users_120224.png) Number of Registered users (millions) on VKontakte between 2006 and 2012 [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/Pavel_Durov_26years.jpg/250px-Pavel_Durov_26years.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pavel_Durov_26years.jpg) [Pavel Durov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavel_Durov "Pavel Durov"), the founder of VKontakte, on his 26th birthday, 10 October 2010 VKontakte was conceived in 2006 when [Pavel Durov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavel_Durov "Pavel Durov"), creator of the popular student forum spbgu.ru, met his former classmate [Vyacheslav Mirilashvili](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yitzchak_Mirilashvili "Yitzchak Mirilashvili") in [St. Petersburg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Petersburg "St. Petersburg") after graduating from the Faculty of Philology at [St Petersburg State University](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Petersburg_State_University "Saint Petersburg State University"). Vyacheslav showed Durov the increasingly popular [Facebook](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook "Facebook"), after which the friends decided to create a new Russian social network. [Lev Leviev](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lev_Binzumovich_Leviev "Lev Binzumovich Leviev"), an Israeli classmate of Vyacheslav Mirilashivili, became the third co-founder. Vyacheslav Mirilashvili borrowed the money from his billionaire [father](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhael_Mirilashvili "Mikhael Mirilashvili") and became the largest shareholder. Lev Leviev took over operational management, and Durov became CEO. Pavel Durov convinced his older brother [Nikolai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolai_Durov "Nikolai Durov"), a multiple winner of international math and programming competitions, to develop the site.[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-svoboda-12)[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-koddurovaforbes-13) Durov launched VKontakte for beta testing in September 2006. The following month, the domain name Vkontakte.ru* was registered.[\[14\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-FOOTNOTEFriedrichsenM%C3%BChl-Benninghaus2013406-14) The new project was incorporated on 19 January 2007 as a Russian private limited company. In February 2007 the site reached a user base of over 100,000 and was recognized as the second largest company in Russia's nascent social network market. In the same month, the site was subjected to a severe [DDoS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDoS "DDoS") attack, which briefly put it offline. The user base reached 1 million in July 2007, and 10 million in April 2008. In December 2008 VK overtook rival [Odnoklassniki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odnoklassniki "Odnoklassniki") as Russia's most popular social networking service.[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-15) ## Website \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=2 "Edit section: Website")\] [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Vkontakte.png/250px-Vkontakte.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vkontakte.png) VK logo before 2015 Similar to many social networks, the platform's fundamental features revolve around private messaging, sharing photos, posting status updates, and exchanging links with friends. VK also provides tools for administering online communities and managing celebrity pages. The site allows its users to upload, search and stream media content, such as videos and music. VK features an advanced search engine, that allows complex queries for finding friends, as well as a real-time news search. VK updated its features and design in April 2016.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-16) ### Features \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=3 "Edit section: Features")\] - Messaging. VK Private Messages can be exchanged between groups of 2 to 500 people. An email address can also be specified as the recipient. Each message may contain up to 10 attachments: Photos, Videos, Audio Files, Maps (an embedded map with a manually placed marker), and Documents.[\[17\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-17) - News. VK users can post on their profile walls, each post may contain up to 10 attachments – media files, maps, and documents (see above). User mentions and hashtags are supported. In the case of multiple photo attachments, the previews are automatically scaled and arranged in a magazine-style layout. The news feed can be switched between all news (default) and most interesting modes. The site features a news-recommendation engine, global real-time search, and individual search for posts and comments on specific users' walls. - Communities. VK features three types of communities. Groups are better suited for decentralized communities (discussion boards, wiki-style articles, editable by all members, etc.). Public pages is a news feed-orientated broadcasting tool for celebrities and businesses. The two types are largely interchangeable, the main difference being in the default settings. The third type of community is called Events, which are used for appropriately organizing concerts and events in an appropriate way.[\[18\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-18) [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/%D0%9C%D0%BD%D0%B5_%D0%BD%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F.jpg/250px-%D0%9C%D0%BD%D0%B5_%D0%BD%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%9C%D0%BD%D0%B5_%D0%BD%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F.jpg) Like button on VK (Russian version) - Like buttons. VK like buttons for posts, comments, media, and external sites operate differently from Facebook. Liked content doesn't get automatically pushed to the user's wall, but is saved in the private Favorites section instead. The user has to press a second 'share with friends' button to share an item on their wall or send it via private message to a friend. - Privacy. Users can control the availability of their content within the network and on the Internet. Blanket and granular privacy settings are available for pages and individual content. - Synchronization with other social networks. Any news published on the VK wall will appear on Facebook or [Twitter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter "Twitter"). Certain news may not be published by clicking on the logo next to the "Send" button. Editing a post in VK does not change the post in Facebook or Twitter and vice versa. However, removing the news in VK will remove it from other social networks. - SMS service. Russian users can receive and reply to a private message or leave a comment for community news using SMS. - Music. Users have access to the audio files uploaded by other users. In addition, users can upload the audio files themselves, create playlists and share audios with others by attaching to messages and wall posts. The uploaded audio files cannot violate copyright laws.[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-19) ### Popularity \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=4 "Edit section: Popularity")\] As of May 2017, according to [Alexa Internet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexa_Internet "Alexa Internet") ranking, VK is one of the most visited websites in some Eurasian countries. It is: - 4th most visited in Russia;[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-20) - 3rd most visited in [Belarus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarus "Belarus");[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-21) - 6th most visited in [Kazakhstan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazakhstan "Kazakhstan");[\[22\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-22) - 8th most visited in [Kyrgyzstan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyrgyzstan "Kyrgyzstan")[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-23) and [Moldova](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moldova "Moldova");[\[24\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-24) - 12th most visited in [Latvia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latvia "Latvia").[\[25\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-25) It was the fourth most viewed site in Ukraine until, in May 2017, the Ukrainian government banned the use of VK in Ukraine.[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-UbRwM17-26) According to a study for May 2018 conducted by [Factum Group Ukraine](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Factum_Group_Ukraine&action=edit&redlink=1 "Factum Group Ukraine (page does not exist)") VK remained the fourth most viewed site in Ukraine, but [Facebook](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook "Facebook") was twice as much visited.[\[27\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-27) For 2019, VK appeared as the most visited social network in Ukraine according to Alexa.[\[28\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-28) According to the [Internet Association of Ukraine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Internet_Association "Ukrainian Internet Association") the share of Ukrainian Internet users who visit VK daily had fallen from 54% to 10% from September 2016 to September 2019.[\[29\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-withoutVKontakte653664-29) They also claimed in November 2019 that Facebook was the most popular social network.[\[29\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-withoutVKontakte653664-29) VK was expected to gain most of the users lost by [Facebook](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook "Facebook") and [Instagram](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instagram "Instagram") after they were blocked in Russia in 2022, according to a Calltouch poll.[\[30\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-30) ## Ownership \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=5 "Edit section: Ownership")\] [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/%D0%94%D0%BE%D0%BC_%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B8_%22%D0%97%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B5%D1%80%22%2C_%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4_%D1%81_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE_%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F.jpg/250px-%D0%94%D0%BE%D0%BC_%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B8_%22%D0%97%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B5%D1%80%22%2C_%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4_%D1%81_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE_%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%94%D0%BE%D0%BC_%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B8_%22%D0%97%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B5%D1%80%22,_%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4_%D1%81_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE_%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F.jpg) The headquarters of VK on the [Nevsky Avenue](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevsky_Avenue "Nevsky Avenue") in [Saint Petersburg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Petersburg "Saint Petersburg") ([Singer House](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singer_House "Singer House")) Initially, founder and CEO [Pavel Durov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavel_Durov "Pavel Durov") owned 20% of shares (although he had majority voting power through proxy votes), and a trio of Russian-Israeli investors [Yitzchak Mirilashvili](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yitzchak_Mirilashvili "Yitzchak Mirilashvili"), his father [Mikhael Mirilashvili](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhael_Mirilashvili "Mikhael Mirilashvili"), and [Lev Leviev](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lev_Binzumovich_Leviev "Lev Binzumovich Leviev")[\[31\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-31) owned 60%, 10%, and 10% respectively.[\[32\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-owners-32) In 2007, Digital Sky Technologies, an investment company managed by [Yuri Milner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuri_Milner "Yuri Milner"), acquired a total of 24.99% of the shares from shareholders, investing \$16.3 million.[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-koddurovaforbes-13) In preparation for the [IPO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPO "IPO") in September 2010, DST separated international and Russian assets: the former formed the [DST Global](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DST_Global "DST Global") fund, while the latter, including VKontakte and rival social network [Odnoklassniki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odnoklassniki "Odnoklassniki"), were merged into [Mail.ru Group](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mail.ru_Group "Mail.ru Group"). Mail.ru Group used part of the money to acquire 7.5% of the social network for \$112.5 million at a valuation of the entire project of 1.5 billion dollars. After exercising a 7.5% option in July 2011 for \$111.7 million, Mail.ru Group accumulated a 39.99% stake in VKontakte.[\[33\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-teatrdurovaforbes-33)[\[34\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-dstownsvk-34)[\[35\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-35) The head of Mail.ru Group, [Dmitry Grishin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dmitry_Grishin "Dmitry Grishin"), voiced the company's intention to gain 100% control over VKontakte. MRG was discussing with shareholders to buy out shares from the valuation of the entire company in \$2-3 billion. In the summer of 2011, Mirilashvili and Leviev were ready to accept in payment owned by Mail.ru Group shares of Facebook, [Groupon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groupon "Groupon"), and [Zynga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zynga "Zynga"), but the deal failed due to Durov's unwillingness to sell a stake on MRG terms. Later, the co-founders considered VKontakte's IPO as an alternative. In March 2012, Durov "accidentally" became plugged into the negotiations where Mirilashvili and Leviev discussed selling their stakes directly to Mail.ru Group's main investor, [Alisher Usmanov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alisher_Usmanov "Alisher Usmanov"). On the same day, Durov deleted the pages of the first co-investors, stopped contacting them, and soon announced that VKontakte would postpone its IPO indefinitely.[\[33\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-teatrdurovaforbes-33)[\[36\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-thebell-36) On 29 May 2012, Mail.ru Group announced its decision to yield control of the company to Durov by offering him the voting rights on its shares. Combined with Durov's personal 12% stake, this gave him 52% of the votes.[\[37\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-37)[\[38\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-ipovotes-38) In April 2013, the [Mirilashvili family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhael_Mirilashvili "Mikhael Mirilashvili") sold its 40% share in VK to United Capital Partners for \$1.12 billion,[\[39\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-39)[\[40\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-40) while [Lev Leviev](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lev_Binzumovich_Leviev "Lev Binzumovich Leviev") sold his 8% share in the same deal, giving United Capital Partners 48% ownership. In January 2014, VK's founder Pavel Durov sold his 12% stake in the company to [Ivan Tavrin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Tavrin "Ivan Tavrin"), the CEO of [MegaFon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MegaFon "MegaFon"), which is controlled by [Alisher Usmanov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alisher_Usmanov "Alisher Usmanov"). Following the deal, Usmanov and his allies controlled around 52% of the company.[\[41\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-41) Shortly thereafter, the CEO of Megafon, sold his 12% stake to Mail.ru, thus allowing Mail.ru to consolidate its controlling stake of 52% in VK.[\[42\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-42) On 1 April 2014, Durov submitted his resignation to the board; at first, due to the fact the company confirmed he had resigned, it was believed to be related to the [Russo-Ukrainian War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Ukrainian_War "Russo-Ukrainian War") which began in the previous February.[\[43\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-April1-43) However, Durov himself claimed it was an April Fool's Joke on 3 April 2014.[\[44\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-April2-44)[\[45\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-45) On 21 April 2014, Durov was dismissed as CEO, claiming he failed to withdraw his letter of resignation a month earlier.[\[46\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-DurovMT22414-46)[\[47\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-DurovOutForGood-47) Durov then claimed the company had been effectively taken over by [Vladimir Putin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin "Vladimir Putin")'s political faction,[\[46\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-DurovMT22414-46)[\[48\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-DurovTI22414-48) suggesting his dismissal was the result of both his refusal to hand over personal details of users to federal law enforcement and his refusal to hand over the personal details of people who were members of a VKontakte group dedicated to the [Euromaidan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euromaidan "Euromaidan") protest movement.[\[46\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-DurovMT22414-46)[\[48\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-DurovTI22414-48) Durov then left Russia and stated that he had "no plans to go back"[\[48\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-DurovTI22414-48) and that "the country is incompatible with Internet business at the moment".[\[47\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-DurovOutForGood-47) On 16 September 2014, the [Mail.ru](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mail.ru "Mail.ru") group bought the remaining 48% stake of VK from [United Capital Partners](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Capital_Partners "United Capital Partners") (UCP)[\[49\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-ft.com-49) for \$1.5 billion,[\[49\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-ft.com-49) thus becoming the sole proprietor of the social network.[\[50\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-50) In December 2021, Russian state-owned bank [Gazprombank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gazprombank "Gazprombank") and insurance company [Sogaz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sogaz "Sogaz") bought out 57.3% of VK shares, thus becoming the holders of the company's [controlling interest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controlling_interest "Controlling interest").[\[51\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-51)[\[52\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-52) ## Controversies \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=6 "Edit section: Controversies")\] ### Copyright issues \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=7 "Edit section: Copyright issues")\] #### Litigation \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=8 "Edit section: Litigation")\] In 2008, the TV channel [Russia-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia-1 "Russia-1") and its owner [VGTRK](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VGTRK "VGTRK") sued VK over unlicensed uploads of two of its films by VK users. In 2010, this dispute was settled by the [Russian High Arbitration Court](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Court_of_Arbitration_of_Russia "High Court of Arbitration of Russia") in favour of the social network. The court ruled that VK is not responsible for its users’ copyright violations, taking into account that both parties agreed with the technical possibility to identify the user who posted illegal content and who, consequently, must incur the liability.[\[53\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-53) Another ruling early in 2012 went partially in favor of [Gala Records (now Warner Music Russia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Music_Group "Warner Music Group"), a recording studio, when the same court ordered VK to pay \$7000 for not being active enough in regard to copyrighted materials.[\[54\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-54) #### Efforts against copyright infringement \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=9 "Edit section: Efforts against copyright infringement")\] VK offers a content removal tool for copyright holders.[\[55\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-55)[\[56\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-56) Large-scale copyright holders may gain access to bulk content removal tools.[\[57\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-57) Since 2010, VK has also entered several partnerships with legal content providers such as television networks.[\[58\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-58) and streaming providers.[\[59\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-59) Most notably, the Video on Demand provider [Ivi.ru](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivi.ru "Ivi.ru") that has secured licensing rights with all Hollywood majors in 2012.[\[60\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-60) These partnerships allow providers to remove user-uploaded content from VK and substitute it with legal embedded copies from the provider's site.[\[61\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-61) This legal content can be either ad-sponsored, subscription-based, or free, depending on the provider's choices. VK does not display its own advertising in the site's music or video sections, nor in the videos themselves. In October 2013, VKontakte was cleared of copyright infringement charges by a court in [Saint Petersburg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Petersburg "Saint Petersburg"). The judge ruled that the social network is not responsible for the content uploaded by its users.[\[62\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-62) In November 2014, the head of the [Roskomnadzor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roskomnadzor "Roskomnadzor"), [Maxim Ksenzov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxim_Ksenzov "Maxim Ksenzov"), said that VKontakte would complete the process of legalization of the content at the beginning of 2015. At that time (November 2014), negotiations between major label companies and the social network VKontakte were ongoing.[\[63\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-63) ### DDoS attacks on sites \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=10 "Edit section: DDoS attacks on sites")\] Because the social network is one of the most popular and visited sites in [runet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runet "Runet"), its visits can be used to make DDoS attacks on smaller sites. VK performed [DDOS attacks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDOS_attack "DDOS attack") on certain sites, making users' browsers send multiple requests to the target site without their consent. The targets were the [Runet Prize](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runet_Prize "Runet Prize") voting page in 2008[\[64\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-64) and the [CAPTCHA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAPTCHA "CAPTCHA")\-solving service antigate.com in 2012.[\[65\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-65)[\[66\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-66) It was done by inserting an iframe and a piece of JavaScript code which periodically reloaded the iframe. As a countermeasure, antigate was detecting whether iframe was loaded from VK and if it were antigate had redirected request to [xHamster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XHamster "XHamster"), a [pornography website](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_pornography "Internet pornography"). VK needed to cease the attack due to the site's use by children. VK tried to use [XMLHttpRequest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XMLHttpRequest "XMLHttpRequest") to solve this problem, but had forgotten about the [same-origin policy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-origin_policy "Same-origin policy"). They succeeded in stopping the attack, though there were many ways to solve the problem with redirect\[[original research?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:No_original_research "Wikipedia:No original research")\]. ### Durov's dismissal \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=11 "Edit section: Durov's dismissal")\] Durov was dismissed as CEO in April 2014 after he had failed to retract a letter of resignation. Durov contended that the resignation letter was an [April fools](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_fools "April fools") prank.[\[46\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-DurovMT22414-46) Durov then claimed [Vladimir Putin's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin "Vladimir Putin") allies had, in effect, taken over the company,[\[46\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-DurovMT22414-46)[\[48\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-DurovTI22414-48)[\[67\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-67) and suggested his ousting was the result of his refusal to hand over personal details of users to the [Russian Federal Security Service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Federal_Security_Service "Russian Federal Security Service") and his refusal to shut down a VK group dedicated to anti-corruption activist [Alexei Navalny](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexei_Navalny "Alexei Navalny").[\[46\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-DurovMT22414-46)[\[48\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-DurovTI22414-48) ## Censorship \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=12 "Edit section: Censorship")\] On 24 May 2013, it was reported in the media that the site had been mistakenly put on a list of websites banned by the Russian government.[\[68\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-68) Some critics have accused the blacklist as the latest in a series of suspicious incidents to have happened to the website in recent months as a way for the Russian government to increase their stake in, and control of the site.[\[69\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-69) On 18 November 2013, following an order from the Court of [Rome](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rome "Rome"), VK was blocked in [Italy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy "Italy") after a complaint from [Medusa Film](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medusa_Film "Medusa Film") stating that it was hosting an illegal copy of one of its films.[\[70\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-70) However, in April 2015, the site was reopened for Italian users and its mobile app is available on both the [App Store](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/App_Store_$iOS$ "App Store (iOS)") and [Google Play](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Play "Google Play").\[[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed "Wikipedia:Citation needed")\] In January 2016, [China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China "China") banned VKontakte, claiming that it was manipulating web content and cooperating with the Kremlin. According to Russia's [media watchdog](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_watchdog "Media watchdog"), the network estimates around 300,000 users based in China.[\[71\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-71) As of 14 February 2018, China authorities unblocked VKontakte and it was fully accessible in the country.[\[72\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-72) In May 2017, Ukrainian President [Petro Poroshenko](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petro_Poroshenko "Petro Poroshenko") signed a decree to impose a ban on Mail.ru and its widely used social networks including VKontakte and [Odnoklassniki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odnoklassniki "Odnoklassniki") as part of its continued sanctions on Russia for its [annexation of Crimea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Russian_annexation_of_Crimea "2014 Russian annexation of Crimea") and involvement in the [war in Donbas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Donbas "War in Donbas").[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-UbRwM17-26)[\[73\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-Poroshenko170515-73)[\[74\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-UkraineSanctionsEntityList-74) [Reporters Without Borders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reporters_Without_Borders "Reporters Without Borders") condemned the ban, calling it a "disproportionate measure that seriously undermines the Ukrainian people's right to information and freedom of expression."[\[75\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-75) VK closed its office in Ukraine's capital [Kyiv](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyiv "Kyiv") in June 2017.[\[76\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-76) In December 2021, VKontakte's CEO, Boris Dobrodeev resigned from his post. [Reuters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reuters "Reuters") linked Dobrodeev's resignation to the acquisition of VK's majority interest by two state-owned companies that happened the same month. According to one analyst, the state consolidation of VKontakte would cause greater censorship by the government.[\[77\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-77) On 12 May 2022, in connection with the sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU), NEPLP decided to limit the activity of "VKontakte" ("vk.com"), "Odnoklassniki" ("ok.ru") and "Moy Mir" ("my.mail.ru") social medias in [Latvia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latvia "Latvia"). The decision was made because NEPLP has evidence that the platforms are owned and controlled by [Yury Kovalchuk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yury_Kovalchuk "Yury Kovalchuk") and [Vladimir Kiriyenko](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Kiriyenko "Vladimir Kiriyenko"). The mentioned persons are subject to EU sanctions in connection with undermining the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.[\[78\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-78) After the [Russian military invasion of Ukraine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine "2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine"), on 26 September 2022, the VK application (as well as other applications of the holding services) was removed from the Apple App Store due to [international sanctions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_sanctions_during_the_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine "International sanctions during the Russian invasion of Ukraine").[\[79\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-79)[\[80\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-80) On 28 September, the Russian communications regulator [Roskomnadzor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roskomnadzor "Roskomnadzor") issued a statement demanding an explanation for the removal of the VK application from the App Store.[\[81\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-81) CEO [Vladimir Kiriyenko](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Kiriyenko "Vladimir Kiriyenko") was sanctioned by the United States, India, Canada, United Kingdom, European Union, Japan, Australia and various countries.[\[82\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-82) ## Prosecution of users in Russia \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=13 "Edit section: Prosecution of users in Russia")\] In July 2012, VKontakte was accused of close cooperation with the [Centre for Combating Extremism (Centre E)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_for_Combating_Extremism "Centre for Combating Extremism"), a unit within the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs heavily criticized for repressing opposition activists.[\[83\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-83)[\[84\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-84) For publications, reposts, comments and [likes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Like_button "Like button") posted on their VKontakte pages, dozens of Russian citizens were sentenced to fines, suspended sentences and imprisonment. Most of the cases against users are qualified as propaganda of extremism, xenophobia and Nazism. Statistically, among all the social networking services available in Russia, the users of VKontakte were targeted by police almost exclusively.[\[85\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-85)[\[86\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-86) ## Events and projects \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=14 "Edit section: Events and projects")\] ### Automated workplace of a civil servant \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=15 "Edit section: Automated workplace of a civil servant")\] By 2023, on the basis of VK, the “Automated workplace of a civil servant” (АРМ ГС in Russian) was developed, to which it is planned to transfer all Russian civil servants. AWP includes mail, calendar, cloud storage, instant messenger, supports audio and video calls. It should replace Telegram, WhatsApp, Gmail, Google Docs, Zoom and Skype widely used in Russia. Thus, the Russian government intends to exclude foreign services from the public administration system. Officials were supposed to switch to "Automated workplace" from May 1, 2023. [\[87\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-87) In June 2023, the [Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Digital_Development,_Communications_and_Mass_Media "Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media") announced a competition for software developers to "scale" the workspace and provide the necessary level of cryptographic protection. It is planned to spend 9 million rubles on the project.[\[88\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-88) ### Hackathons \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=16 "Edit section: Hackathons")\] VK organized their first 24-hour [Hackathon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackathon "Hackathon") in 2015 from 31 October to 1 November. The participants were invited to develop projects united by a common idea: “Make it Simple!” (Russian: «Упрощайте!»). 34 teams took part in the competition. A prize pool of 300 thousand rubles was split among the winners.[\[89\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-89) The second VK Hackathon took place from 26 to 27 November 2016. The participants developed projects for the community app platform. The “Search for Lost Cats” (Russian: «Поиск пропавших котиков») app won the “Developers’ Choice” category. The prize pool for the event was 300 thousand rubles.[\[90\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-90) The third VK Hackathon took place from 20 to 22 October 2017 with 320 participants competing in the event. The prize pool was one million rubles. An application designed to help users navigate the [State Hermitage Museum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Hermitage_Museum "State Hermitage Museum") won the “Culture” category.[\[91\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-91) ### Start Fellows \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=17 "Edit section: Start Fellows")\] In 2011, Pavel Durov and [Yuri Milner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuri_Milner "Yuri Milner") created Start Fellows, a grant program founded to support projects in the field of technology.[\[92\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-92) In 2014, VK took over the Start Fellows program and made it more systematic. The grant was provided to 3 companies each month and included project consultation from VK along with 25 thousand rubles a month for advertisement on the VK platform. Winners of the grant include “University Schedules” (Russian: «Расписание вузов»), a scheduling app, LiveCamDroid, a mobile streaming service, HTML Academy, an educational project, and others.[\[93\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-93)[\[94\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-94)[\[95\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-95)[\[96\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-96) VK re-launched the project in 2017. Only active projects with an earnings model could submit applications. 327 grant applications were received but only 67 of them passed the initial screening. The total prize pool was 2.5 million rubles.[\[97\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-97) ### VK Cup \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=18 "Edit section: VK Cup")\] The first VK Cup, a programming championship for young programmers aged 13–23, was held on 16 July 2012 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.[\[98\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-98) VK and [Codeforces](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codeforces "Codeforces") co-organized the second VK Cup programming championship, which took place from 24 to 27 July 2015. The winners received a total of 1,048,576 or 220 rubles (an amount related to round binary numbers).[\[99\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-99) The third VK Cup took place from 1 to 4 July 2016 and had a prize pool of 2.5 million rubles.[\[100\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-100) VK and Codeforces co-organized the fourth VK Cup which took place from 8 to 9 July 2017. Teams from 52 countries applied to take part in the competition. The prize pool for the competition was 2.5 million rubles.[\[101\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-101) ### VK Music Awards \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=19 "Edit section: VK Music Awards")\] The first VK Music Awards ceremony took place on 25 December 2017. The VK Music Awards were produced by [Timur Bekmambetov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timur_Bekmambetov "Timur Bekmambetov") and the [Bazelevs Company](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bazelevs_Company "Bazelevs Company") with [Pavel Volya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavel_Volya "Pavel Volya") hosting the event.[\[102\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-intermedia.ru-102) The awards ceremony was held in the form of an online live stream.[\[103\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-103) Any VK user could watch the broadcast live. After the ceremony, a private concert was held in the [Vegas City Hall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocus_City_Hall "Crocus City Hall") in Moscow. Tickets to the event could be won through a contest held in the VK Music community.[\[102\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-intermedia.ru-102) VK Music Awards winners were determined by the number of plays an artist's song got on VK and the BOOM app. The names of the 30 award winners were published on the official VK Music Awards community page and on the BOOM app website. “Rosé Wine” ([Allj](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eldzhey "Eldzhey") and [Feduk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feduk "Feduk")), “Lambada” ([T-Fest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-Fest "T-Fest") and [Scriptonite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scriptonite "Scriptonite")), and “My Half” ([MiyaGi and Endspiel](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MiyaGi_and_Endspiel&action=edit&redlink=1 "MiyaGi and Endspiel (page does not exist)") \[[ru](https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-MiyaGi_%26_Andy_Panda "ru:T-MiyaGi & Andy Panda")\]) topped the list of most listened to songs. The official pages of all award winners have been marked with a special symbol.[\[104\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-104) ### VK Fest \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=20 "Edit section: VK Fest")\] Since 2015, VK has held a yearly 2-day open-air music and entertainment festival. This festival traditionally takes place on a weekend in July at the [300th Anniversary Park](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=300th_Anniversary_Park&action=edit&redlink=1 "300th Anniversary Park (page does not exist)") \[[ru](https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BA_%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8_300-%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%8F_%D0%A1%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BA%D1%82-%D0%9F%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B1%D1%83%D1%80%D0%B3%D0%B0 "ru:Парк имени 300-летия Санкт-Петербурга")\] (Russian: Парк имени 300-летия Санкт-Петербурга) in St. Petersburg, Russia. According to data from the organizer, 70 thousand people attended the festival in 2016, with the number rising to 85 thousand attendees in 2017. In 2017, around 40 artists and groups performed on 3 stages, including [Little Big](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Big_$band$ "Little Big (band)"), [The Hatters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hatters_$band$ "The Hatters (band)"), and others. Bloggers and other famous individuals, such as [Dmitry Grishin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dmitry_Grishin "Dmitry Grishin"), [Timur Bekmambetov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timur_Bekmambetov "Timur Bekmambetov"), and [Mikhail Piotrovsky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Piotrovsky "Mikhail Piotrovsky") (speakers at the 2017 festival), are also an important part of the festival. More than 1.5 million people watched the festival's official live stream.[\[105\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-105) ## See also \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=21 "Edit section: See also")\] - ![flag](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f3/Flag_of_Russia.svg/40px-Flag_of_Russia.svg.png)[Russia portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Russia "Portal:Russia") - [![icon](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Crystal_Clear_app_linneighborhood.svg/40px-Crystal_Clear_app_linneighborhood.svg.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Crystal_Clear_app_linneighborhood.svg)[Internet portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Internet "Portal:Internet") - [Ambient awareness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambient_awareness "Ambient awareness") - [Cyworld](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyworld "Cyworld") - [Facebook](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook "Facebook") - [Internet in Russia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_in_Russia "Internet in Russia") - [Myspace](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myspace "Myspace") - [Qzone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qzone "Qzone") - [List of social networking websites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_social_networking_websites "List of social networking websites") ## References \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=22 "Edit section: References")\] 1. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-1) ["Mail.ru Group Financial Statements 2016"](https://corp.imgsmail.ru/media/files/mail.rugrouparfy2016.pdf) (PDF). Mail.ru. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170708183906/https://corp.imgsmail.ru/media/files/mail.rugrouparfy2016.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 8 July 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017. 2. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-2) ["Во «ВКонтакте» появилась возможность редактировать отправленные сообщения"](https://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/5a1c084a9a794766e39a13ca). rbc.ru. [RBK Group](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RBK_Group "RBK Group"). 27 November 2017. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230709084550/https://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/5a1c084a9a794766e39a13ca) from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023. 3. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-3) ["Social gaming: revenue in Russia 2010-2013 \\| Statistic"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190821130139/https://www.statista.com/statistics/205549/social-gaming-revenue-forecast-in-russia/). [Statista.com](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statista.com "Statista.com"). Archived from [the original](https://www.statista.com/statistics/205549/social-gaming-revenue-forecast-in-russia/) on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2015. 4. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-usercount_4-0) ["List of VK users"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200301164053/https://vk.com/catalog.php). Vk.com. Archived from [the original](http://vk.com/catalog.php) on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2018. 5. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-5) ["Russia's Top Websites Ranking in November 2022 \\| Similarweb"](https://www.similarweb.com/top-websites/russian-federation/). [Similarweb](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Similarweb "Similarweb"). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220316054316/https://www.similarweb.com/top-websites/russian-federation/) from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022. 6. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-6) ["Рада підтримала продовження заборони на російські соцмережі"](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/rada-odobrila-prodlenie-zapreta-rossiyskie-1589387984.html). [RBC-Ukraine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RBC-Ukraine "RBC-Ukraine"). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210725072010/https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/rada-odobrila-prodlenie-zapreta-rossiyskie-1589387984.html) from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021. 7. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-7) ["Website Ranking"](https://www.semrush.com/trending-websites/global/all). [Semrush](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semrush "Semrush"). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231219181830/https://www.semrush.com/trending-websites/global/all) from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2024. 8. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-8) ["The Kremlin's war on streaming: How Russia is moving to block YouTube and why its efforts may bring down the entire Runet"](https://theins.ru/en/society/273838). The Insider (in Russian). Retrieved 3 March 2025. 9. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-9) Times, The Moscow (15 January 2025). ["VKontakte Overtakes YouTube in Web Traffic for First Time in Russia"](https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/01/15/vkontakte-overtakes-youtube-in-web-traffic-for-first-time-in-russia-a87616). [The Moscow Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Moscow_Times "The Moscow Times"). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250206220341/https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/01/15/vkontakte-overtakes-youtube-in-web-traffic-for-first-time-in-russia-a87616) from the original on 6 February 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2025. 10. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-10) Gutelle, Sam (15 January 2025). ["Russia made it harder for citizens to watch YouTube. They're going to VKontakte instead"](https://www.tubefilter.com/2025/01/15/russia-youtube-throttle-vkontakte-user-rise/). Tubefilter. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250210231210/https://www.tubefilter.com/2025/01/15/russia-youtube-throttle-vkontakte-user-rise/) from the original on 10 February 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2025. 11. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-11) Vlasova, Olga (2 October 2024). ["Why are Russians struggling to access YouTube?"](https://theloop.ecpr.eu/why-are-russians-struggling-to-access-youtube/). The Loop. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250403202948/https://theloop.ecpr.eu/why-are-russians-struggling-to-access-youtube/) from the original on 3 April 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2025. 12. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-svoboda_12-0) [Andrei Loshak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrei_Loshak "Andrei Loshak") (16 October 2019). ["История рунета. Бизнес: ОК, ВК и все-все-все"](https://www.svoboda.org/a/30219424.html). Радио Свобода (in Russian). [Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Free_Europe/Radio_Liberty "Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty"). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240827080518/https://www.svoboda.org/a/30219424.html) from the original on 27 August 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024. 13. ^ [*a](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-koddurovaforbes_13-0) [b](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-koddurovaforbes_13-1) ["Код Павла Дурова"](https://www.forbes.ru/ekonomika/kompanii/69666-kod-pavla-durova). [Forbes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbes "Forbes")* (in Russian). 24 June 2011. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110627041221/https://www.forbes.ru/ekonomika/kompanii/69666-kod-pavla-durova) from the original on 27 June 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2024. 14. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFriedrichsenM%C3%BChl-Benninghaus2013406_14-0) [Friedrichsen & Mühl-Benninghaus 2013](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#CITEREFFriedrichsenM%C3%BChl-Benninghaus2013), p. 406. 15. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-15) ["Vkontakte Remains more popular than Facebook in Russia"](http://www.mynewsdesk.com/fi/blog_posts/vkontakte-remains-more-popular-than-facebook-in-russia-26403). Mynewsdesk. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180807220706/http://www.mynewsdesk.com/fi/blog_posts/vkontakte-remains-more-popular-than-facebook-in-russia-26403) from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018. 16. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-16) ["VK.com New Interface, Design, Looks & Tips"](http://www.mbgadget.com/2016/08/vkcom-new-interface.html). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160918163711/http://www.mbgadget.com/2016/08/vkcom-new-interface.html) from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2016. 17. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-17) Supported are the formats: doc, docx, xls, xlsx, ppt, pptx, rtf, pdf, png, jpg, gif, psd, mp3, djvu, fb2, ps and archives containing these formats. Executable files and files over 200 Mb are not allowed. Video chat is also available (for users who allow incoming calls) since 2012. 18. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-18) ["Types of community pages"](https://vk.com/pages?oid=-59800369&p=%D0%92%D1%8B%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%80_%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B0_%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%89%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B0). vk.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200317235028/https://vk.com/pages?oid=-59800369&p=%D0%92%D1%8B%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%80_%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B0_%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%89%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B0) from the original on 17 March 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2018. 19. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-19) ["Vkontakte Music 2.0"](https://vk.com/blog/vkmusic). vk.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170508111607/https://vk.com/blog/vkmusic) from the original on 8 May 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2018. 20. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-20) ["Alexa - top sites in Russia"](https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/RU). Alexa.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090403051929/https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/RU) from the original on 3 April 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2017. 21. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-21) ["Alexa - top sites in Belarus"](https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/BY). Alexa.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090403040639/https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/BY) from the original on 3 April 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2017. 22. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-22) ["Alexa - top sites in Kazakhstan"](https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/KZ). Alexa.com. 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[Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090403030721/https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/LV) from the original on 3 April 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2017. 26. ^ [*a](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-UbRwM17_26-0) [b](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-UbRwM17_26-1) ["Ukraine's Poroshenko to block Russian social networks"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210109061726/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39934666). [BBC News](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_News "BBC News"). 16 May 2017. Archived from [the original](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39934666) on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2018. 27. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-27)* ["Banned VK social network remains fourth in Internet traffic in Ukraine in May"](https://web.archive.org/web/20201130004557/https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/511662.html). [Interfax-Ukraine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interfax-Ukraine "Interfax-Ukraine"). 13 June 2018. 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[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-90) [""Поиск пропавших котиков": приложение, которое ищет потерявшихся животных с помощью нейросетей — Meduza"](https://meduza.io/shapito/2016/11/28/poisk-propavshih-kotikov-prilozhenie-kotoroe-ischet-poteryavshihsya-zhivotnyh-s-pomoschyu-neyrosetey). Meduza (in Russian). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181204125344/https://meduza.io/shapito/2016/11/28/poisk-propavshih-kotikov-prilozhenie-kotoroe-ischet-poteryavshihsya-zhivotnyh-s-pomoschyu-neyrosetey) from the original on 4 December 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018. 91. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-91) ["На Хакатоне "ВКонтакте" победили авторы приложения, помогающего выбрать маршрут в Эрмитаже"](https://paperpaper.ru/papernews/2017/10/23/hackathon/). «Бумага» (in Russian). 23 October 2017. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181204130031/https://paperpaper.ru/papernews/2017/10/23/hackathon/) from the original on 4 December 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018. 92. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-92) Madhumita Venkataramanan (15 August 2012). ["Europe's 100 hottest startups 2012: Moscow"](https://www.wired.co.uk/article/moscow). Wired. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170414000854/http://www.wired.co.uk/article/moscow) from the original on 14 April 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2022. 93. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-93) Константин Панфилов (21 August 2014). ["Победителем конкурса стартапов Start Fellows стал мобильный сервис видеостриминга LiveCamDroid"](https://vc.ru/social/4758-sf-final-aug?ysclid=l1z8qtexlb) (in Russian). VC.ru. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220809202134/https://vc.ru/social/4758-sf-final-aug?ysclid=l1z8qtexlb) from the original on 9 August 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022. 94. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-94) Константин Панфилов (16 October 2014). ["Победителями конкурса стартапов Start Fellows от "ВКонтакте" стали HTML Academy и "Попутчик""](https://vc.ru/social/5376-sf-final-sep?ysclid=l1z8rfa155) (in Russian). VC.ru. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220414165939/https://vc.ru/social/5376-sf-final-sep?ysclid=l1z8rfa155) from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022. 95. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-95) [""ВКонтакте" назвала нового получателя гранта Start Fellows"](https://www.the-village.ru/business/news/160161-start-fellows?ysclid=l1z8pfp22g) (in Russian). The Village. 15 July 2014. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220414165937/https://www.the-village.ru/business/news/160161-start-fellows?ysclid=l1z8pfp22g) from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022. 96. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-96) ["Пробуждение с гарантией"](https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3368135) (in Russian). Kommersant. 11 June 2019. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220414165940/https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3368135) from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022. 97. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-97) ["Победители Start Fellows получили 2,5 млн рублей от ВКонтакте"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180618175253/https://www.ferra.ru/ru/techlife/news/2017/12/04/vk-start-fellows-2017/). Archived from [the original](https://www.ferra.ru/ru/techlife/news/2017/12/04/vk-start-fellows-2017/) on 18 June 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018. 98. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-98) [""ВКонтакте" назвали победителей VK Cup"](https://tass.ru/ekonomika/9895089) (in Russian). Tass. 2 November 2020. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220414170518/https://tass.ru/ekonomika/9895089) from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022. 99. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-99) vc.ru, Редакция (27 July 2015). ["Фоторепортаж: "ВКонтакте" провела второй чемпионат по программированию VK Cup 2015 — Соцсети на vc.ru"](https://vc.ru/social/9534-vk-cup-2015). vc.ru. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181113025620/https://vc.ru/social/9534-vk-cup-2015) from the original on 13 November 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018. 100. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-100) ["VK Cup 2016 - Codeforces"](http://codeforces.com/vkcup2016). Codeforces. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160306005257/http://codeforces.com/vkcup2016) from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2018. 101. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-101) [""ВКонтакте" выплатила 2,5 миллиона рублей призёрам VK Cup 2017"](http://www.sobaka.ru/city/internet/59533). Собака.ru. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181121020933/http://www.sobaka.ru/city/internet/59533) from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018. 102. ^ [*a](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-intermedia.ru_102-0) [b](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-intermedia.ru_102-1) [""ВКонтакте" завершит год вручением своей первой музыкальной премии"](http://www.intermedia.ru/news/318143). 15 December 2017. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181028120626/http://www.intermedia.ru/news/318143) from the original on 28 October 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018. 103. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-103)* ["VK Music: Listen to songs and music online for free \\| VK"](https://vk.com/music?z=video-147845620_456239019). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220311181802/https://vk.com/login?u=2&to=L2F1ZGlvPw--) from the original on 11 March 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2019. 104. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-104) ["В Москве прошла премия VK Music Awards. Были названы 30 главных треков года"](https://the-flow.ru/news/vk-music-awards). The-Flow.ru (in Russian). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181204114857/https://the-flow.ru/news/vk-music-awards) from the original on 4 December 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018. 105. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-105) ["В Петербурге на выходных пройдет третий VK Fest"](https://rg.ru/2017/07/14/reg-szfo/v-peterburge-na-vyhodnyh-projdet-tretij-vk-fest.html). Российская газета (in Russian). 14 July 2017. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190307191538/https://rg.ru/2017/07/14/reg-szfo/v-peterburge-na-vyhodnyh-projdet-tretij-vk-fest.html) from the original on 7 March 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2018. ## Literature \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=23 "Edit section: Literature")\] - Friedrichsen, Mike; Mühl-Benninghaus, Wolfgang, eds. (2013). [Handbook of Social Media Management](https://books.google.com/books?id=ETHak9WHJGAC&q=vkontakte). Berlin: Springer. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_$identifier$ "ISBN (identifier)") [978-3-642-28897-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-642-28897-5 "Special:BookSources/978-3-642-28897-5") . ## External links \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=24 "Edit section: External links")\] - [![Wikimedia Commons logo](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/20px-Commons-logo.svg.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Commons-logo.svg) Media related to [Vkontakte](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Vkontakte "commons:Category:Vkontakte") at Wikimedia Commons - [Official website](https://vk.com/) [![Edit this at Wikidata](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/20px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png)](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q116933#P856 "Edit this at Wikidata") \| [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Social_networking_services "Template:Social networking services") [t](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Social_networking_services "Template talk:Social networking services") [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Social_networking_services "Special:EditPage/Template:Social networking services")[Social networking services](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_networking_service "Social networking service") \| \| \|---\|---\| \| [Personal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_social_networking_services "List of social networking services") \| [23snaps](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/23snaps "23snaps") [Amikumu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amikumu "Amikumu") [anobii](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anobii "Anobii") [Are.na](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Are.na "Are.na") [Badoo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badoo "Badoo") [BeReal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BeReal "BeReal") [Bluesky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluesky "Bluesky") [BharatMatrimony](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BharatMatrimony "BharatMatrimony") [Bondee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bondee "Bondee") [Bumble](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumble "Bumble") [Cara](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cara_$app$ "Cara (app)") [Clapper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clapper_$service$ "Clapper (service)") [Clubhouse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clubhouse_$app$ "Clubhouse (app)") [Convoz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convoz "Convoz") [Cyworld](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyworld "Cyworld") [Diaspora](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaspora_$social_network$ "Diaspora (social network)") [display](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Display_$social_network$ "Display (social network)") [Douban](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douban "Douban") [Draugiem.lv](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draugiem.lv "Draugiem.lv") [Facebook](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook "Facebook") [Foursquare City Guide](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foursquare_City_Guide "Foursquare City Guide") [Foursquare Swarm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foursquare_Swarm "Foursquare Swarm") [Friendica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendica "Friendica") [Gab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gab_$social_network$ "Gab (social network)") [Gapo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gapo "Gapo") [Gas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_$app$ "Gas (app)") [Gettr](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettr "Gettr") [GNU social](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_social "GNU social") [Hi5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hi5 "Hi5") [Hive Social](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hive_Social "Hive Social") [Idka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idka "Idka") [Instagram](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instagram "Instagram") [IRC-Galleria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IRC-Galleria "IRC-Galleria") [Kuaishou](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuaishou "Kuaishou") [Kumu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumu_$social_network$ "Kumu (social network)") [Letterboxd](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letterboxd "Letterboxd") [Likee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Likee "Likee") [LiveJournal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LiveJournal "LiveJournal") [Jeevansathi.com](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeevansathi.com "Jeevansathi.com") [Matrimony.com](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrimony.com "Matrimony.com") [Marco Polo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Polo_$app$ "Marco Polo (app)") [Mastodon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastodon_$social_network$ "Mastodon (social network)") [The Meet Group](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Meet_Group "The Meet Group") [Meetup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meetup "Meetup") [mewe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mewe_$social_media$ "Mewe (social media)") [Miaopai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miaopai "Miaopai") [micro.blog](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro.blog "Micro.blog") [Minds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minds_$social_network$ "Minds (social network)") [Misskey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misskey "Misskey") [Mixi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixi "Mixi") [MX TakaTak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MX_TakaTak "MX TakaTak") [My World@Mail.Ru](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_World@Mail.Ru "My World@Mail.Ru") [Myspace](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myspace "Myspace") [Nextdoor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nextdoor "Nextdoor") [Odnoklassniki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odnoklassniki "Odnoklassniki") [Parler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parler "Parler") [Pinterest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinterest "Pinterest") [Pixnet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pixnet "Pixnet") [Pleroma](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleroma_$software$ "Pleroma (software)") [Plurk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plurk "Plurk") [Promo.com](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promo.com "Promo.com") [Qzone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qzone "Qzone") [Readgeek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Readgeek "Readgeek") [Xiaohongshu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiaohongshu "Xiaohongshu") (RedNote) [Renren](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renren "Renren") [Seeking.com](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seeking.com "Seeking.com") [Shaadi.com](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaadi.com "Shaadi.com") [ShareChat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ShareChat "ShareChat") [Snapchat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snapchat "Snapchat") [Snow](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_$app$ "Snow (app)") [Spaces](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaces_$social_network$ "Spaces (social network)") [Spoutible](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoutible "Spoutible") [Tagged](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagged_$website$ "Tagged (website)") [Tal Canal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tal_Canal "Tal Canal") [Tastebuds.fm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tastebuds.fm "Tastebuds.fm") [Tea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_$app$ "Tea (app)") [Tellonym](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tellonym "Tellonym") [Threads](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threads_$social_network$ "Threads (social network)") [TikTok](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TikTok "TikTok") [Tinder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinder_$app$ "Tinder (app)") [Triller](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triller_$app$ "Triller (app)") [Trust Café](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trust_Caf%C3%A9 "Trust Café") [Truth Social](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_Social "Truth Social") [Tuenti](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuenti "Tuenti") [Tumblr](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumblr "Tumblr") [TV Time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TV_Time "TV Time") [Untappd](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Untappd "Untappd") [UpScrolled](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UpScrolled "UpScrolled") [Vero](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vero_$app$ "Vero (app)") [VK]() [Weibo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weibo "Weibo") [Whisper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisper_$app$ "Whisper (app)") [X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_$social_network$ "X (social network)") (formerly Twitter) [Yik Yak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yik_Yak "Yik Yak") \| \| [Professional](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_network_service "Professional network service") \| [Academia.edu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academia.edu "Academia.edu") [Behance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behance "Behance") [Brainly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainly "Brainly") [HCL Connections](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HCL_Connections "HCL Connections") [LinkedIn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LinkedIn "LinkedIn") [Moodle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moodle "Moodle") [ResearchGate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ResearchGate "ResearchGate") [Solaborate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solaborate "Solaborate") [TradingView](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TradingView "TradingView") [Viadeo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viadeo "Viadeo") [Viva Engage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viva_Engage "Viva Engage") [XING](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XING "XING") \| \| [Defunct](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_social_networking_services "List of defunct social networking services") \| [App.net](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/App.net "App.net") [AsianAve](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AsianAve "AsianAve") [Ask.fm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ask.fm "Ask.fm") [Avatars United](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatars_United "Avatars United") [Bebo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bebo "Bebo") [Bolt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolt_$website$ "Bolt (website)") [BranchOut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BranchOut "BranchOut") [Capazoo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capazoo "Capazoo") [Cloob](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloob "Cloob") [Cohost](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cohost "Cohost") [eConozco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EConozco "EConozco") [Edmodo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmodo "Edmodo") [Ello](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ello_$social_network$ "Ello (social network)") [Emojli](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emojli "Emojli") [eWorld](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EWorld "EWorld") [Eyegroove](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyegroove "Eyegroove") [FitFinder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FitFinder "FitFinder") [FriendFeed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FriendFeed "FriendFeed") [Friends Reunited](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friends_Reunited "Friends Reunited") [Friendster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendster "Friendster") [Google+](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google%2B "Google+") [Google Buzz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Buzz "Google Buzz") [Google Currents](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Currents_$social_app$ "Google Currents (social app)") [Grono.net](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grono.net "Grono.net") [Heello](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heello "Heello") [Hello](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello_$social_network$ "Hello (social network)") [Highlight](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highlight_$application$ "Highlight (application)") [Houseparty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houseparty_$app$ "Houseparty (app)") [Huddles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huddles_$app$ "Huddles (app)") [Hyves](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyves "Hyves") [IdeaPlane](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IdeaPlane "IdeaPlane") [IGTV](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IGTV "IGTV") [iTunes Ping](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes_Ping "ITunes Ping") [iWiW](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IWiW "IWiW") [Jaiku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaiku "Jaiku") [Keek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keek "Keek") [Koo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koo_$social_network$ "Koo (social network)") [Lifeknot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifeknot "Lifeknot") [LunarStorm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LunarStorm "LunarStorm") [Me2day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Me2day "Me2day") [Meerkat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meerkat_$app$ "Meerkat (app)") [Miiverse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miiverse "Miiverse") [MixBit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MixBit "MixBit") [Mobli](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobli "Mobli") [Mugshot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mugshot_$website$ "Mugshot (website)") [Multiply](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiply_$website$ "Multiply (website)") [Musical.ly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical.ly "Musical.ly") [Natter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natter_$social_network$ "Natter (social network)") [Netlog](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netlog "Netlog") [NK.pl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NK.pl "NK.pl") [Orkut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orkut "Orkut") [Path](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Path_$social_network$ "Path (social network)") [Peach](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peach_$social_network$ "Peach (social network)") [Periscope](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periscope_$service$ "Periscope (service)") [Pheed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pheed "Pheed") [Piczo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piczo "Piczo") [PlanetAll](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlanetAll "PlanetAll") [Posterous](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posterous "Posterous") [Pownce](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pownce "Pownce") [Qaiku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qaiku "Qaiku") [Sciencescape](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sciencescape "Sciencescape") (Metaα) [SixDegrees.com](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SixDegrees.com "SixDegrees.com") [Skyrock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyrock_$social_network_site$ "Skyrock (social network site)") [So.cl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/So.cl "So.cl") [Spotify Live](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotify_Live "Spotify Live") [Spring.me](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring.me "Spring.me") [Streetlife](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streetlife_$website$ "Streetlife (website)") [StudiVZ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StudiVZ "StudiVZ") [Surfbook](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surfbook "Surfbook") [Talkbits](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talkbits "Talkbits") [Taringa\!](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taringa! "Taringa!") [tbh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tbh "Tbh") [Tea Party Community](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_Party_Community "Tea Party Community") [Third Voice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Voice "Third Voice") [Tout](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tout_$company$ "Tout (company)") [tribe.net](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribe.net "Tribe.net") [tvtag](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tvtag "Tvtag") [Vine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vine_$service$ "Vine (service)") [Windows Live Spaces](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Live_Spaces "Windows Live Spaces") [Wretch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wretch_$website$ "Wretch (website)") [Xanga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanga "Xanga") [Yahoo! 360°](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yahoo_360%C2%B0 "Yahoo 360°") [Yahoo! Kickstart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yahoo_Kickstart "Yahoo Kickstart") [Yahoo! Mash](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yahoo_Mash "Yahoo Mash") [Yahoo! Meme](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yahoo_Meme "Yahoo Meme") [YaRus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YaRus "YaRus") [Yo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yo_$app$ "Yo (app)") [Zune Social](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zune_Social "Zune Social") [ZunZuneo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZunZuneo "ZunZuneo") \| \| Services \| [Software comparison](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_social_networking_software "Comparison of social networking software") [Burned Haystack Dating Method](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burned_Haystack_Dating_Method "Burned Haystack Dating Method") [White-label](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-label_product "White-label product") [Ning](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ning_$website$ "Ning (website)") [Wall.fm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall.fm "Wall.fm") \| \| Tools \| [Analysis software](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_network_analysis_software "Social network analysis software") [Diaspora](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaspora_$social_network$ "Diaspora (social network)") [Web 2.0 Suicide Machine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0_Suicide_Machine "Web 2.0 Suicide Machine") \| \| Concepts \| [Attention inequality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_inequality "Attention inequality") [Confessions page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confessions_page "Confessions page") [Cybersectarianism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybersectarianism "Cybersectarianism") [Fediverse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fediverse "Fediverse") [Online identity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_identity "Online identity") [Small-world experiment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small-world_experiment "Small-world experiment") [Small-world network](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small-world_network "Small-world network") [Social network](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_network "Social network") [Thirst trap](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirst_trap "Thirst trap") [User profile](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_profile "User profile") [Virtual community](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_community "Virtual community") [list](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_virtual_communities_with_more_than_1_million_users "List of virtual communities with more than 1 million users") \| \| Applications \| [Hospitality exchange service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospitality_exchange_service "Hospitality exchange service") [Mobile](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_social_network "Mobile social network") [Online dating](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_dating "Online dating") [comparison](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_online_dating_services "Comparison of online dating services") [Social network advertising](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_network_advertising "Social network advertising") [Social network hosting service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_network_hosting_service "Social network hosting service") [Social profiling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_profiling "Social profiling") \| \| [User interface](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_interface "User interface") \| [Activity stream](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activity_stream "Activity stream") [Brand page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brand_page "Brand page") [Groups](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_$online_social_networking$ "Group (online social networking)") [Hashtag](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hashtag "Hashtag") [Like button](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Like_button "Like button") [Online petitions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_petition "Online petition") [Polling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-access_poll "Open-access poll") [Reblogging](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reblogging "Reblogging") [Story](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Story_$social_media$ "Story (social media)") \| \| Implications \| [Issues](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Issues_relating_to_social_networking_services "Issues relating to social networking services") [Privacy concerns](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacy_concerns_with_social_networking_services "Privacy concerns with social networking services") [Problematic social media use](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problematic_social_media_use "Problematic social media use") [Use in investigations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Use_of_social_network_websites_in_investigations "Use of social network websites in investigations") [Use in politics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media_use_in_politics "Social media use in politics") [User gender differences](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_differences_in_social_network_service_use "Gender differences in social network service use") \| \| Protocols \| [ActivityPub](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ActivityPub "ActivityPub") [AT Protocol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AT_Protocol "AT Protocol") [Decentralized Social Networking Protocol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decentralized_Social_Networking_Protocol "Decentralized Social Networking Protocol") [Distributed Social Networking Protocol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distributed_Social_Networking_Protocol "Distributed Social Networking Protocol") (defunct) [Micropub](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micropub_$protocol$ "Micropub (protocol)") [Nostr](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nostr "Nostr") [OpenSocial](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenSocial "OpenSocial") (defunct) [OStatus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OStatus "OStatus") [Pump.io](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pump.io "Pump.io") [XMPP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XMPP "XMPP") \| \| [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Microblogging "Template:Microblogging") [t](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Microblogging "Template talk:Microblogging") [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Microblogging "Special:EditPage/Template:Microblogging")[Microblogging](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microblogging "Microblogging") \| \| \|---\|---\| \| Centralized \| [Facebook](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook "Facebook") [Fanfou](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanfou "Fanfou") [Gab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gab_$social_network$ "Gab (social network)") [Gettr](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettr "Gettr") [Hive Social](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hive_Social "Hive Social") [LinkedIn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LinkedIn "LinkedIn") [Myspace](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myspace "Myspace") [Pillowfort](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pillowfort "Pillowfort") [Plurk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plurk "Plurk") [Qzone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qzone "Qzone") [Solaborate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solaborate "Solaborate") [Spoutible](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoutible "Spoutible") [Truth Social](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_Social "Truth Social") [Tumblr](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumblr "Tumblr") [UpScrolled](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UpScrolled "UpScrolled") [Viadeo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viadeo "Viadeo") [VK]() [Weibo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weibo "Weibo") [X/Twitter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_$social_network$ "X (social network)") [XING](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XING "XING") \| \| Decentralized \| \| \| \| \| \| [ActivityPub](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ActivityPub "ActivityPub")\-compatible \| [Friendica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendica "Friendica") [GNU social](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_social "GNU social") [Mastodon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastodon_$social_network$ "Mastodon (social network)") [micro.blog](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro.blog "Micro.blog") [Misskey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misskey "Misskey") [Pleroma](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleroma_$software$ "Pleroma (software)") [Threads](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threads_$social_network$ "Threads (social network)") \| \| [Bluesky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluesky "Bluesky") [AT Protocol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AT_Protocol "AT Protocol") [diaspora](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaspora_$social_network$ "Diaspora (social network)") [identi.ca](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identi.ca "Identi.ca") [pump.io](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pump.io "Pump.io") [Nostr](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nostr "Nostr") [OpenMicroBlogging](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenMicroBlogging "OpenMicroBlogging") [OStatus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OStatus "OStatus") [Twister](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twister_$software$ "Twister (software)") \| \| \| Defunct \| [App.net](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/App.net "App.net") [Edmodo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmodo "Edmodo") [Google Buzz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Buzz "Google Buzz") [Google+](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google%2B "Google+") [Heello](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heello "Heello") [Jaiku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaiku "Jaiku") [Me2day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Me2day "Me2day") [Meme](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yahoo_Meme "Yahoo Meme") [Migme](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migme "Migme") [Natter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natter_$social_network$ "Natter (social network)") [Parler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parler "Parler") [Posterous](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posterous "Posterous") [Pownce](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pownce "Pownce") [Qaiku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qaiku "Qaiku") [Tencent Weibo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tencent_Weibo "Tencent Weibo") [Tout](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tout_$company$ "Tout (company)") \| \| Features \| [Activity stream](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activity_stream "Activity stream") [Backchannel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backchannel "Backchannel") [Hashtag](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hashtag "Hashtag") [Lifestreaming](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifestreaming "Lifestreaming") [Mention/Replies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mention_$blogging$ "Mention (blogging)") [Reblogging](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reblogging "Reblogging") \| \| [Comparison of microblogging and similar services](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_microblogging_and_similar_services "Comparison of microblogging and similar services") \| \| ![](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?useformat=desktop&type=1x1&usesul3=1) Retrieved from "<https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_(service)&oldid=1347524358>" [Categories](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Category "Help:Category"): - [Companies based in Saint Petersburg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Companies_based_in_Saint_Petersburg "Category:Companies based in Saint Petersburg") - [Russian social networking websites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Russian_social_networking_websites "Category:Russian social networking websites") - [2006 establishments in Russia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:2006_establishments_in_Russia "Category:2006 establishments in Russia") - [Internet properties established in 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Readable Markdown	\| \| \| \|---\|---\| \| [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/VK_Full_Logo_%282021-present%29.svg/250px-VK_Full_Logo_%282021-present%29.svg.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:VK_Full_Logo_$2021-present$.svg) \| \| \| Screenshot [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/VK%27s_home_page_%28February_2026%29.png/330px-VK%27s_home_page_%28February_2026%29.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:VK%27s_home_page_$February_2026$.png) \| \| \| Type of site \| [Social networking service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_networking_service "Social networking service") \| \| Available in \| 86 languages \| \| Founded \| 10 October 2006; 19 years ago in [Saint Petersburg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Petersburg "Saint Petersburg"), Russia \| \| Area served \| Worldwide; the majority of its users are in the former [USSR](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USSR "USSR") or in the [CIS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Independent_States "Commonwealth of Independent States") \| \| Created by \| [Pavel Durov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavel_Durov "Pavel Durov"), [Nikolai Durov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolai_Durov "Nikolai Durov") \| \| CEO \| [Vladimir Kiriyenko](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Kiriyenko "Vladimir Kiriyenko") \| \| [Revenue](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenue "Revenue") \| 42\.751 [₽](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_ruble "Russian ruble") billion (2016)[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-1) \| \| [Parent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holding_company "Holding company") \| [VK](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$company$ "VK (company)") \| \| URL \| [vk.com](http://vk.com/) \| \| Registration \| Required \| \| Launched \| 10 October 2006; 19 years ago \| \| Current status \| Active \| VK (short for its original name *VKontakte; [Russian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_language "Russian language"): ВКонтакте, [lit.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literal_translation "Literal translation")'InContact') is a Russian online [social media](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media "Social media") and [social networking service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_networking_service "Social networking service") based in [Saint Petersburg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Petersburg "Saint Petersburg"). VK is available in multiple languages but it is predominantly used by [Russian speakers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russophone "Russophone"). VK users can message each other publicly or privately, edit messages,[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-2) create [groups](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_$online_social_networking$ "Group (online social networking)"), public pages, and events; share and tag images, audio, and [video](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_video_platform "Online video platform"); and play [browser-based games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browser_game "Browser game").[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-3) As of August 2018, VK had at least 500 million accounts.[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-usercount-4) As of November 2022, it was the sixth most popular website in Russia.[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-5) The network was also popular in [Ukraine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine "Ukraine") until it was banned by the [Supreme Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verkhovna_Rada "Verkhovna Rada") in 2017.[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-6) According to [Semrush](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semrush "Semrush"), in 2024, VK was the 30th [most visited website in the world](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most-visited_websites "List of most-visited websites");[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-7) as [YouTube](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube "YouTube") is [subject to blocking in Russia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_censorship_in_Russia "Internet censorship in Russia"),[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-8) VK Video overtook [Google](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google "Google")'s top position in monthly web traffic for the first time in December 2024,[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-9) as part of the major substitution to domestic business.[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-10)[\[11\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-11) [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/VKontakte_Number_of_Registered_users_120224.png/250px-VKontakte_Number_of_Registered_users_120224.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:VKontakte_Number_of_Registered_users_120224.png) Number of Registered users (millions) on VKontakte between 2006 and 2012 [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/Pavel_Durov_26years.jpg/250px-Pavel_Durov_26years.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pavel_Durov_26years.jpg) [Pavel Durov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavel_Durov "Pavel Durov"), the founder of VKontakte, on his 26th birthday, 10 October 2010 VKontakte was conceived in 2006 when [Pavel Durov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavel_Durov "Pavel Durov"), creator of the popular student forum spbgu.ru, met his former classmate [Vyacheslav Mirilashvili](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yitzchak_Mirilashvili "Yitzchak Mirilashvili") in [St. Petersburg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Petersburg "St. Petersburg") after graduating from the Faculty of Philology at [St Petersburg State University](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Petersburg_State_University "Saint Petersburg State University"). Vyacheslav showed Durov the increasingly popular [Facebook](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook "Facebook"), after which the friends decided to create a new Russian social network. [Lev Leviev](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lev_Binzumovich_Leviev "Lev Binzumovich Leviev"), an Israeli classmate of Vyacheslav Mirilashivili, became the third co-founder. Vyacheslav Mirilashvili borrowed the money from his billionaire [father](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhael_Mirilashvili "Mikhael Mirilashvili") and became the largest shareholder. Lev Leviev took over operational management, and Durov became CEO. Pavel Durov convinced his older brother [Nikolai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolai_Durov "Nikolai Durov"), a multiple winner of international math and programming competitions, to develop the site.[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-svoboda-12)[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-koddurovaforbes-13) Durov launched VKontakte for beta testing in September 2006. The following month, the domain name Vkontakte.ru* was registered.[\[14\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-FOOTNOTEFriedrichsenM%C3%BChl-Benninghaus2013406-14) The new project was incorporated on 19 January 2007 as a Russian private limited company. In February 2007 the site reached a user base of over 100,000 and was recognized as the second largest company in Russia's nascent social network market. In the same month, the site was subjected to a severe [DDoS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDoS "DDoS") attack, which briefly put it offline. The user base reached 1 million in July 2007, and 10 million in April 2008. In December 2008 VK overtook rival [Odnoklassniki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odnoklassniki "Odnoklassniki") as Russia's most popular social networking service.[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-15) [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Vkontakte.png/250px-Vkontakte.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vkontakte.png) VK logo before 2015 Similar to many social networks, the platform's fundamental features revolve around private messaging, sharing photos, posting status updates, and exchanging links with friends. VK also provides tools for administering online communities and managing celebrity pages. The site allows its users to upload, search and stream media content, such as videos and music. VK features an advanced search engine, that allows complex queries for finding friends, as well as a real-time news search. VK updated its features and design in April 2016.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-16) - Messaging. VK Private Messages can be exchanged between groups of 2 to 500 people. An email address can also be specified as the recipient. Each message may contain up to 10 attachments: Photos, Videos, Audio Files, Maps (an embedded map with a manually placed marker), and Documents.[\[17\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-17) - News. VK users can post on their profile walls, each post may contain up to 10 attachments – media files, maps, and documents (see above). User mentions and hashtags are supported. In the case of multiple photo attachments, the previews are automatically scaled and arranged in a magazine-style layout. The news feed can be switched between all news (default) and most interesting modes. The site features a news-recommendation engine, global real-time search, and individual search for posts and comments on specific users' walls. - Communities. VK features three types of communities. Groups are better suited for decentralized communities (discussion boards, wiki-style articles, editable by all members, etc.). Public pages is a news feed-orientated broadcasting tool for celebrities and businesses. The two types are largely interchangeable, the main difference being in the default settings. The third type of community is called Events, which are used for appropriately organizing concerts and events in an appropriate way.[\[18\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-18) [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/%D0%9C%D0%BD%D0%B5_%D0%BD%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F.jpg/250px-%D0%9C%D0%BD%D0%B5_%D0%BD%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%9C%D0%BD%D0%B5_%D0%BD%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F.jpg) Like button on VK (Russian version) - Like buttons. VK like buttons for posts, comments, media, and external sites operate differently from Facebook. Liked content doesn't get automatically pushed to the user's wall, but is saved in the private Favorites section instead. The user has to press a second 'share with friends' button to share an item on their wall or send it via private message to a friend. - Privacy. Users can control the availability of their content within the network and on the Internet. Blanket and granular privacy settings are available for pages and individual content. - Synchronization with other social networks. Any news published on the VK wall will appear on Facebook or [Twitter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter "Twitter"). Certain news may not be published by clicking on the logo next to the "Send" button. Editing a post in VK does not change the post in Facebook or Twitter and vice versa. However, removing the news in VK will remove it from other social networks. - SMS service. Russian users can receive and reply to a private message or leave a comment for community news using SMS. - Music. Users have access to the audio files uploaded by other users. In addition, users can upload the audio files themselves, create playlists and share audios with others by attaching to messages and wall posts. The uploaded audio files cannot violate copyright laws.[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-19) As of May 2017, according to [Alexa Internet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexa_Internet "Alexa Internet") ranking, VK is one of the most visited websites in some Eurasian countries. It is: - 4th most visited in Russia;[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-20) - 3rd most visited in [Belarus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarus "Belarus");[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-21) - 6th most visited in [Kazakhstan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazakhstan "Kazakhstan");[\[22\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-22) - 8th most visited in [Kyrgyzstan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyrgyzstan "Kyrgyzstan")[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-23) and [Moldova](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moldova "Moldova");[\[24\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-24) - 12th most visited in [Latvia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latvia "Latvia").[\[25\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-25) It was the fourth most viewed site in Ukraine until, in May 2017, the Ukrainian government banned the use of VK in Ukraine.[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-UbRwM17-26) According to a study for May 2018 conducted by [Factum Group Ukraine](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Factum_Group_Ukraine&action=edit&redlink=1 "Factum Group Ukraine (page does not exist)") VK remained the fourth most viewed site in Ukraine, but [Facebook](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook "Facebook") was twice as much visited.[\[27\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-27) For 2019, VK appeared as the most visited social network in Ukraine according to Alexa.[\[28\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-28) According to the [Internet Association of Ukraine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Internet_Association "Ukrainian Internet Association") the share of Ukrainian Internet users who visit VK daily had fallen from 54% to 10% from September 2016 to September 2019.[\[29\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-withoutVKontakte653664-29) They also claimed in November 2019 that Facebook was the most popular social network.[\[29\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-withoutVKontakte653664-29) VK was expected to gain most of the users lost by [Facebook](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook "Facebook") and [Instagram](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instagram "Instagram") after they were blocked in Russia in 2022, according to a Calltouch poll.[\[30\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-30) [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/%D0%94%D0%BE%D0%BC_%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B8_%22%D0%97%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B5%D1%80%22%2C_%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4_%D1%81_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE_%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F.jpg/250px-%D0%94%D0%BE%D0%BC_%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B8_%22%D0%97%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B5%D1%80%22%2C_%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4_%D1%81_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE_%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%94%D0%BE%D0%BC_%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B8_%22%D0%97%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B5%D1%80%22,_%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4_%D1%81_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE_%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F.jpg) The headquarters of VK on the [Nevsky Avenue](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevsky_Avenue "Nevsky Avenue") in [Saint Petersburg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Petersburg "Saint Petersburg") ([Singer House](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singer_House "Singer House")) Initially, founder and CEO [Pavel Durov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavel_Durov "Pavel Durov") owned 20% of shares (although he had majority voting power through proxy votes), and a trio of Russian-Israeli investors [Yitzchak Mirilashvili](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yitzchak_Mirilashvili "Yitzchak Mirilashvili"), his father [Mikhael Mirilashvili](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhael_Mirilashvili "Mikhael Mirilashvili"), and [Lev Leviev](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lev_Binzumovich_Leviev "Lev Binzumovich Leviev")[\[31\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-31) owned 60%, 10%, and 10% respectively.[\[32\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-owners-32) In 2007, Digital Sky Technologies, an investment company managed by [Yuri Milner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuri_Milner "Yuri Milner"), acquired a total of 24.99% of the shares from shareholders, investing \$16.3 million.[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-koddurovaforbes-13) In preparation for the [IPO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPO "IPO") in September 2010, DST separated international and Russian assets: the former formed the [DST Global](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DST_Global "DST Global") fund, while the latter, including VKontakte and rival social network [Odnoklassniki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odnoklassniki "Odnoklassniki"), were merged into [Mail.ru Group](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mail.ru_Group "Mail.ru Group"). Mail.ru Group used part of the money to acquire 7.5% of the social network for \$112.5 million at a valuation of the entire project of 1.5 billion dollars. After exercising a 7.5% option in July 2011 for \$111.7 million, Mail.ru Group accumulated a 39.99% stake in VKontakte.[\[33\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-teatrdurovaforbes-33)[\[34\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-dstownsvk-34)[\[35\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-35) The head of Mail.ru Group, [Dmitry Grishin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dmitry_Grishin "Dmitry Grishin"), voiced the company's intention to gain 100% control over VKontakte. MRG was discussing with shareholders to buy out shares from the valuation of the entire company in \$2-3 billion. In the summer of 2011, Mirilashvili and Leviev were ready to accept in payment owned by Mail.ru Group shares of Facebook, [Groupon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groupon "Groupon"), and [Zynga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zynga "Zynga"), but the deal failed due to Durov's unwillingness to sell a stake on MRG terms. Later, the co-founders considered VKontakte's IPO as an alternative. In March 2012, Durov "accidentally" became plugged into the negotiations where Mirilashvili and Leviev discussed selling their stakes directly to Mail.ru Group's main investor, [Alisher Usmanov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alisher_Usmanov "Alisher Usmanov"). On the same day, Durov deleted the pages of the first co-investors, stopped contacting them, and soon announced that VKontakte would postpone its IPO indefinitely.[\[33\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-teatrdurovaforbes-33)[\[36\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-thebell-36) On 29 May 2012, Mail.ru Group announced its decision to yield control of the company to Durov by offering him the voting rights on its shares. Combined with Durov's personal 12% stake, this gave him 52% of the votes.[\[37\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-37)[\[38\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-ipovotes-38) In April 2013, the [Mirilashvili family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhael_Mirilashvili "Mikhael Mirilashvili") sold its 40% share in VK to United Capital Partners for \$1.12 billion,[\[39\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-39)[\[40\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-40) while [Lev Leviev](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lev_Binzumovich_Leviev "Lev Binzumovich Leviev") sold his 8% share in the same deal, giving United Capital Partners 48% ownership. In January 2014, VK's founder Pavel Durov sold his 12% stake in the company to [Ivan Tavrin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Tavrin "Ivan Tavrin"), the CEO of [MegaFon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MegaFon "MegaFon"), which is controlled by [Alisher Usmanov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alisher_Usmanov "Alisher Usmanov"). Following the deal, Usmanov and his allies controlled around 52% of the company.[\[41\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-41) Shortly thereafter, the CEO of Megafon, sold his 12% stake to Mail.ru, thus allowing Mail.ru to consolidate its controlling stake of 52% in VK.[\[42\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-42) On 1 April 2014, Durov submitted his resignation to the board; at first, due to the fact the company confirmed he had resigned, it was believed to be related to the [Russo-Ukrainian War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Ukrainian_War "Russo-Ukrainian War") which began in the previous February.[\[43\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-April1-43) However, Durov himself claimed it was an April Fool's Joke on 3 April 2014.[\[44\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-April2-44)[\[45\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-45) On 21 April 2014, Durov was dismissed as CEO, claiming he failed to withdraw his letter of resignation a month earlier.[\[46\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-DurovMT22414-46)[\[47\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-DurovOutForGood-47) Durov then claimed the company had been effectively taken over by [Vladimir Putin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin "Vladimir Putin")'s political faction,[\[46\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-DurovMT22414-46)[\[48\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-DurovTI22414-48) suggesting his dismissal was the result of both his refusal to hand over personal details of users to federal law enforcement and his refusal to hand over the personal details of people who were members of a VKontakte group dedicated to the [Euromaidan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euromaidan "Euromaidan") protest movement.[\[46\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-DurovMT22414-46)[\[48\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-DurovTI22414-48) Durov then left Russia and stated that he had "no plans to go back"[\[48\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-DurovTI22414-48) and that "the country is incompatible with Internet business at the moment".[\[47\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-DurovOutForGood-47) On 16 September 2014, the [Mail.ru](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mail.ru "Mail.ru") group bought the remaining 48% stake of VK from [United Capital Partners](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Capital_Partners "United Capital Partners") (UCP)[\[49\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-ft.com-49) for \$1.5 billion,[\[49\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-ft.com-49) thus becoming the sole proprietor of the social network.[\[50\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-50) In December 2021, Russian state-owned bank [Gazprombank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gazprombank "Gazprombank") and insurance company [Sogaz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sogaz "Sogaz") bought out 57.3% of VK shares, thus becoming the holders of the company's [controlling interest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controlling_interest "Controlling interest").[\[51\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-51)[\[52\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-52) In 2008, the TV channel [Russia-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia-1 "Russia-1") and its owner [VGTRK](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VGTRK "VGTRK") sued VK over unlicensed uploads of two of its films by VK users. In 2010, this dispute was settled by the [Russian High Arbitration Court](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Court_of_Arbitration_of_Russia "High Court of Arbitration of Russia") in favour of the social network. The court ruled that VK is not responsible for its users’ copyright violations, taking into account that both parties agreed with the technical possibility to identify the user who posted illegal content and who, consequently, must incur the liability.[\[53\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-53) Another ruling early in 2012 went partially in favor of [Gala Records (now Warner Music Russia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Music_Group "Warner Music Group"), a recording studio, when the same court ordered VK to pay \$7000 for not being active enough in regard to copyrighted materials.[\[54\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-54) #### Efforts against copyright infringement \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=9 "Edit section: Efforts against copyright infringement")\] VK offers a content removal tool for copyright holders.[\[55\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-55)[\[56\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-56) Large-scale copyright holders may gain access to bulk content removal tools.[\[57\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-57) Since 2010, VK has also entered several partnerships with legal content providers such as television networks.[\[58\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-58) and streaming providers.[\[59\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-59) Most notably, the Video on Demand provider [Ivi.ru](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivi.ru "Ivi.ru") that has secured licensing rights with all Hollywood majors in 2012.[\[60\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-60) These partnerships allow providers to remove user-uploaded content from VK and substitute it with legal embedded copies from the provider's site.[\[61\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-61) This legal content can be either ad-sponsored, subscription-based, or free, depending on the provider's choices. VK does not display its own advertising in the site's music or video sections, nor in the videos themselves. In October 2013, VKontakte was cleared of copyright infringement charges by a court in [Saint Petersburg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Petersburg "Saint Petersburg"). The judge ruled that the social network is not responsible for the content uploaded by its users.[\[62\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-62) In November 2014, the head of the [Roskomnadzor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roskomnadzor "Roskomnadzor"), [Maxim Ksenzov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxim_Ksenzov "Maxim Ksenzov"), said that VKontakte would complete the process of legalization of the content at the beginning of 2015. At that time (November 2014), negotiations between major label companies and the social network VKontakte were ongoing.[\[63\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-63) ### DDoS attacks on sites \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=10 "Edit section: DDoS attacks on sites")\] Because the social network is one of the most popular and visited sites in [runet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runet "Runet"), its visits can be used to make DDoS attacks on smaller sites. VK performed [DDOS attacks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDOS_attack "DDOS attack") on certain sites, making users' browsers send multiple requests to the target site without their consent. The targets were the [Runet Prize](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runet_Prize "Runet Prize") voting page in 2008[\[64\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-64) and the [CAPTCHA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAPTCHA "CAPTCHA")\-solving service antigate.com in 2012.[\[65\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-65)[\[66\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-66) It was done by inserting an iframe and a piece of JavaScript code which periodically reloaded the iframe. As a countermeasure, antigate was detecting whether iframe was loaded from VK and if it were antigate had redirected request to [xHamster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XHamster "XHamster"), a [pornography website](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_pornography "Internet pornography"). VK needed to cease the attack due to the site's use by children. VK tried to use [XMLHttpRequest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XMLHttpRequest "XMLHttpRequest") to solve this problem, but had forgotten about the [same-origin policy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-origin_policy "Same-origin policy"). They succeeded in stopping the attack, though there were many ways to solve the problem with redirect\[[original research?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:No_original_research "Wikipedia:No original research")\]. Durov was dismissed as CEO in April 2014 after he had failed to retract a letter of resignation. Durov contended that the resignation letter was an [April fools](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_fools "April fools") prank.[\[46\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-DurovMT22414-46) Durov then claimed [Vladimir Putin's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin "Vladimir Putin") allies had, in effect, taken over the company,[\[46\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-DurovMT22414-46)[\[48\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-DurovTI22414-48)[\[67\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-67) and suggested his ousting was the result of his refusal to hand over personal details of users to the [Russian Federal Security Service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Federal_Security_Service "Russian Federal Security Service") and his refusal to shut down a VK group dedicated to anti-corruption activist [Alexei Navalny](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexei_Navalny "Alexei Navalny").[\[46\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-DurovMT22414-46)[\[48\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-DurovTI22414-48) On 24 May 2013, it was reported in the media that the site had been mistakenly put on a list of websites banned by the Russian government.[\[68\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-68) Some critics have accused the blacklist as the latest in a series of suspicious incidents to have happened to the website in recent months as a way for the Russian government to increase their stake in, and control of the site.[\[69\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-69) On 18 November 2013, following an order from the Court of [Rome](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rome "Rome"), VK was blocked in [Italy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy "Italy") after a complaint from [Medusa Film](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medusa_Film "Medusa Film") stating that it was hosting an illegal copy of one of its films.[\[70\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-70) However, in April 2015, the site was reopened for Italian users and its mobile app is available on both the [App Store](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/App_Store_$iOS$ "App Store (iOS)") and [Google Play](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Play "Google Play").\[[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed "Wikipedia:Citation needed")\] In January 2016, [China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China "China") banned VKontakte, claiming that it was manipulating web content and cooperating with the Kremlin. According to Russia's [media watchdog](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_watchdog "Media watchdog"), the network estimates around 300,000 users based in China.[\[71\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-71) As of 14 February 2018, China authorities unblocked VKontakte and it was fully accessible in the country.[\[72\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-72) In May 2017, Ukrainian President [Petro Poroshenko](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petro_Poroshenko "Petro Poroshenko") signed a decree to impose a ban on Mail.ru and its widely used social networks including VKontakte and [Odnoklassniki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odnoklassniki "Odnoklassniki") as part of its continued sanctions on Russia for its [annexation of Crimea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Russian_annexation_of_Crimea "2014 Russian annexation of Crimea") and involvement in the [war in Donbas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Donbas "War in Donbas").[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-UbRwM17-26)[\[73\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-Poroshenko170515-73)[\[74\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-UkraineSanctionsEntityList-74) [Reporters Without Borders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reporters_Without_Borders "Reporters Without Borders") condemned the ban, calling it a "disproportionate measure that seriously undermines the Ukrainian people's right to information and freedom of expression."[\[75\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-75) VK closed its office in Ukraine's capital [Kyiv](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyiv "Kyiv") in June 2017.[\[76\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-76) In December 2021, VKontakte's CEO, Boris Dobrodeev resigned from his post. [Reuters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reuters "Reuters") linked Dobrodeev's resignation to the acquisition of VK's majority interest by two state-owned companies that happened the same month. According to one analyst, the state consolidation of VKontakte would cause greater censorship by the government.[\[77\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-77) On 12 May 2022, in connection with the sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU), NEPLP decided to limit the activity of "VKontakte" ("vk.com"), "Odnoklassniki" ("ok.ru") and "Moy Mir" ("my.mail.ru") social medias in [Latvia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latvia "Latvia"). The decision was made because NEPLP has evidence that the platforms are owned and controlled by [Yury Kovalchuk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yury_Kovalchuk "Yury Kovalchuk") and [Vladimir Kiriyenko](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Kiriyenko "Vladimir Kiriyenko"). The mentioned persons are subject to EU sanctions in connection with undermining the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.[\[78\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-78) After the [Russian military invasion of Ukraine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine "2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine"), on 26 September 2022, the VK application (as well as other applications of the holding services) was removed from the Apple App Store due to [international sanctions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_sanctions_during_the_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine "International sanctions during the Russian invasion of Ukraine").[\[79\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-79)[\[80\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-80) On 28 September, the Russian communications regulator [Roskomnadzor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roskomnadzor "Roskomnadzor") issued a statement demanding an explanation for the removal of the VK application from the App Store.[\[81\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-81) CEO [Vladimir Kiriyenko](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Kiriyenko "Vladimir Kiriyenko") was sanctioned by the United States, India, Canada, United Kingdom, European Union, Japan, Australia and various countries.[\[82\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-82) ## Prosecution of users in Russia \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=13 "Edit section: Prosecution of users in Russia")\] In July 2012, VKontakte was accused of close cooperation with the [Centre for Combating Extremism (Centre E)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_for_Combating_Extremism "Centre for Combating Extremism"), a unit within the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs heavily criticized for repressing opposition activists.[\[83\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-83)[\[84\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-84) For publications, reposts, comments and [likes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Like_button "Like button") posted on their VKontakte pages, dozens of Russian citizens were sentenced to fines, suspended sentences and imprisonment. Most of the cases against users are qualified as propaganda of extremism, xenophobia and Nazism. Statistically, among all the social networking services available in Russia, the users of VKontakte were targeted by police almost exclusively.[\[85\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-85)[\[86\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-86) ## Events and projects \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=14 "Edit section: Events and projects")\] ### Automated workplace of a civil servant \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VK_$service$&action=edit&section=15 "Edit section: Automated workplace of a civil servant")\] By 2023, on the basis of VK, the “Automated workplace of a civil servant” (АРМ ГС in Russian) was developed, to which it is planned to transfer all Russian civil servants. AWP includes mail, calendar, cloud storage, instant messenger, supports audio and video calls. It should replace Telegram, WhatsApp, Gmail, Google Docs, Zoom and Skype widely used in Russia. Thus, the Russian government intends to exclude foreign services from the public administration system. Officials were supposed to switch to "Automated workplace" from May 1, 2023. [\[87\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-87) In June 2023, the [Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Digital_Development,_Communications_and_Mass_Media "Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media") announced a competition for software developers to "scale" the workspace and provide the necessary level of cryptographic protection. It is planned to spend 9 million rubles on the project.[\[88\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-88) VK organized their first 24-hour [Hackathon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackathon "Hackathon") in 2015 from 31 October to 1 November. The participants were invited to develop projects united by a common idea: “Make it Simple!” (Russian: «Упрощайте!»). 34 teams took part in the competition. A prize pool of 300 thousand rubles was split among the winners.[\[89\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-89) The second VK Hackathon took place from 26 to 27 November 2016. The participants developed projects for the community app platform. The “Search for Lost Cats” (Russian: «Поиск пропавших котиков») app won the “Developers’ Choice” category. The prize pool for the event was 300 thousand rubles.[\[90\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-90) The third VK Hackathon took place from 20 to 22 October 2017 with 320 participants competing in the event. The prize pool was one million rubles. An application designed to help users navigate the [State Hermitage Museum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Hermitage_Museum "State Hermitage Museum") won the “Culture” category.[\[91\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-91) In 2011, Pavel Durov and [Yuri Milner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuri_Milner "Yuri Milner") created Start Fellows, a grant program founded to support projects in the field of technology.[\[92\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-92) In 2014, VK took over the Start Fellows program and made it more systematic. The grant was provided to 3 companies each month and included project consultation from VK along with 25 thousand rubles a month for advertisement on the VK platform. Winners of the grant include “University Schedules” (Russian: «Расписание вузов»), a scheduling app, LiveCamDroid, a mobile streaming service, HTML Academy, an educational project, and others.[\[93\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-93)[\[94\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-94)[\[95\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-95)[\[96\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-96) VK re-launched the project in 2017. Only active projects with an earnings model could submit applications. 327 grant applications were received but only 67 of them passed the initial screening. The total prize pool was 2.5 million rubles.[\[97\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-97) The first VK Cup, a programming championship for young programmers aged 13–23, was held on 16 July 2012 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.[\[98\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-98) VK and [Codeforces](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codeforces "Codeforces") co-organized the second VK Cup programming championship, which took place from 24 to 27 July 2015. The winners received a total of 1,048,576 or 220 rubles (an amount related to round binary numbers).[\[99\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-99) The third VK Cup took place from 1 to 4 July 2016 and had a prize pool of 2.5 million rubles.[\[100\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-100) VK and Codeforces co-organized the fourth VK Cup which took place from 8 to 9 July 2017. Teams from 52 countries applied to take part in the competition. The prize pool for the competition was 2.5 million rubles.[\[101\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-101) The first VK Music Awards ceremony took place on 25 December 2017. The VK Music Awards were produced by [Timur Bekmambetov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timur_Bekmambetov "Timur Bekmambetov") and the [Bazelevs Company](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bazelevs_Company "Bazelevs Company") with [Pavel Volya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavel_Volya "Pavel Volya") hosting the event.[\[102\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-intermedia.ru-102) The awards ceremony was held in the form of an online live stream.[\[103\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-103) Any VK user could watch the broadcast live. After the ceremony, a private concert was held in the [Vegas City Hall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocus_City_Hall "Crocus City Hall") in Moscow. Tickets to the event could be won through a contest held in the VK Music community.[\[102\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-intermedia.ru-102) VK Music Awards winners were determined by the number of plays an artist's song got on VK and the BOOM app. The names of the 30 award winners were published on the official VK Music Awards community page and on the BOOM app website. “Rosé Wine” ([Allj](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eldzhey "Eldzhey") and [Feduk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feduk "Feduk")), “Lambada” ([T-Fest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-Fest "T-Fest") and [Scriptonite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scriptonite "Scriptonite")), and “My Half” ([MiyaGi and Endspiel](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MiyaGi_and_Endspiel&action=edit&redlink=1 "MiyaGi and Endspiel (page does not exist)") \[[ru](https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-MiyaGi_%26_Andy_Panda "ru:T-MiyaGi & Andy Panda")\]) topped the list of most listened to songs. The official pages of all award winners have been marked with a special symbol.[\[104\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-104) Since 2015, VK has held a yearly 2-day open-air music and entertainment festival. This festival traditionally takes place on a weekend in July at the [300th Anniversary Park](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=300th_Anniversary_Park&action=edit&redlink=1 "300th Anniversary Park (page does not exist)") \[[ru](https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BA_%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8_300-%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%8F_%D0%A1%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BA%D1%82-%D0%9F%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B1%D1%83%D1%80%D0%B3%D0%B0 "ru:Парк имени 300-летия Санкт-Петербурга")\] (Russian: Парк имени 300-летия Санкт-Петербурга) in St. Petersburg, Russia. According to data from the organizer, 70 thousand people attended the festival in 2016, with the number rising to 85 thousand attendees in 2017. In 2017, around 40 artists and groups performed on 3 stages, including [Little Big](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Big_$band$ "Little Big (band)"), [The Hatters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hatters_$band$ "The Hatters (band)"), and others. Bloggers and other famous individuals, such as [Dmitry Grishin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dmitry_Grishin "Dmitry Grishin"), [Timur Bekmambetov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timur_Bekmambetov "Timur Bekmambetov"), and [Mikhail Piotrovsky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Piotrovsky "Mikhail Piotrovsky") (speakers at the 2017 festival), are also an important part of the festival. More than 1.5 million people watched the festival's official live stream.[\[105\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_note-105) - [Ambient awareness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambient_awareness "Ambient awareness") - [Cyworld](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyworld "Cyworld") - [Facebook](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook "Facebook") - [Internet in Russia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_in_Russia "Internet in Russia") - [Myspace](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myspace "Myspace") - [Qzone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qzone "Qzone") - [List of social networking websites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_social_networking_websites "List of social networking websites") 1. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-1) ["Mail.ru Group Financial Statements 2016"](https://corp.imgsmail.ru/media/files/mail.rugrouparfy2016.pdf) (PDF). Mail.ru. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170708183906/https://corp.imgsmail.ru/media/files/mail.rugrouparfy2016.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 8 July 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017. 2. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-2) ["Во «ВКонтакте» появилась возможность редактировать отправленные сообщения"](https://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/5a1c084a9a794766e39a13ca). rbc.ru. [RBK Group](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RBK_Group "RBK Group"). 27 November 2017. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230709084550/https://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/5a1c084a9a794766e39a13ca) from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023. 3. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-3) ["Social gaming: revenue in Russia 2010-2013 \\| Statistic"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190821130139/https://www.statista.com/statistics/205549/social-gaming-revenue-forecast-in-russia/). [Statista.com](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statista.com "Statista.com"). Archived from [the original](https://www.statista.com/statistics/205549/social-gaming-revenue-forecast-in-russia/) on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2015. 4. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-usercount_4-0) ["List of VK users"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200301164053/https://vk.com/catalog.php). Vk.com. Archived from [the original](http://vk.com/catalog.php) on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2018. 5. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-5) ["Russia's Top Websites Ranking in November 2022 \\| Similarweb"](https://www.similarweb.com/top-websites/russian-federation/). [Similarweb](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Similarweb "Similarweb"). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220316054316/https://www.similarweb.com/top-websites/russian-federation/) from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022. 6. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-6) ["Рада підтримала продовження заборони на російські соцмережі"](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/rada-odobrila-prodlenie-zapreta-rossiyskie-1589387984.html). [RBC-Ukraine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RBC-Ukraine "RBC-Ukraine"). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210725072010/https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/rada-odobrila-prodlenie-zapreta-rossiyskie-1589387984.html) from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021. 7. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-7) ["Website Ranking"](https://www.semrush.com/trending-websites/global/all). [Semrush](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semrush "Semrush"). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231219181830/https://www.semrush.com/trending-websites/global/all) from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2024. 8. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-8) ["The Kremlin's war on streaming: How Russia is moving to block YouTube and why its efforts may bring down the entire Runet"](https://theins.ru/en/society/273838). The Insider (in Russian). Retrieved 3 March 2025. 9. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-9) Times, The Moscow (15 January 2025). ["VKontakte Overtakes YouTube in Web Traffic for First Time in Russia"](https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/01/15/vkontakte-overtakes-youtube-in-web-traffic-for-first-time-in-russia-a87616). [The Moscow Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Moscow_Times "The Moscow Times"). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250206220341/https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/01/15/vkontakte-overtakes-youtube-in-web-traffic-for-first-time-in-russia-a87616) from the original on 6 February 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2025. 10. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-10) Gutelle, Sam (15 January 2025). ["Russia made it harder for citizens to watch YouTube. They're going to VKontakte instead"](https://www.tubefilter.com/2025/01/15/russia-youtube-throttle-vkontakte-user-rise/). Tubefilter. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250210231210/https://www.tubefilter.com/2025/01/15/russia-youtube-throttle-vkontakte-user-rise/) from the original on 10 February 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2025. 11. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-11) Vlasova, Olga (2 October 2024). ["Why are Russians struggling to access YouTube?"](https://theloop.ecpr.eu/why-are-russians-struggling-to-access-youtube/). The Loop. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250403202948/https://theloop.ecpr.eu/why-are-russians-struggling-to-access-youtube/) from the original on 3 April 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2025. 12. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-svoboda_12-0) [Andrei Loshak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrei_Loshak "Andrei Loshak") (16 October 2019). ["История рунета. Бизнес: ОК, ВК и все-все-все"](https://www.svoboda.org/a/30219424.html). Радио Свобода (in Russian). [Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Free_Europe/Radio_Liberty "Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty"). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240827080518/https://www.svoboda.org/a/30219424.html) from the original on 27 August 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024. 13. ^ [*a](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-koddurovaforbes_13-0) [b](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-koddurovaforbes_13-1) ["Код Павла Дурова"](https://www.forbes.ru/ekonomika/kompanii/69666-kod-pavla-durova). [Forbes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbes "Forbes")* (in Russian). 24 June 2011. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110627041221/https://www.forbes.ru/ekonomika/kompanii/69666-kod-pavla-durova) from the original on 27 June 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2024. 14. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFriedrichsenM%C3%BChl-Benninghaus2013406_14-0) [Friedrichsen & Mühl-Benninghaus 2013](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#CITEREFFriedrichsenM%C3%BChl-Benninghaus2013), p. 406. 15. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-15) ["Vkontakte Remains more popular than Facebook in Russia"](http://www.mynewsdesk.com/fi/blog_posts/vkontakte-remains-more-popular-than-facebook-in-russia-26403). Mynewsdesk. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180807220706/http://www.mynewsdesk.com/fi/blog_posts/vkontakte-remains-more-popular-than-facebook-in-russia-26403) from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018. 16. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-16) ["VK.com New Interface, Design, Looks & Tips"](http://www.mbgadget.com/2016/08/vkcom-new-interface.html). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160918163711/http://www.mbgadget.com/2016/08/vkcom-new-interface.html) from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2016. 17. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-17) Supported are the formats: doc, docx, xls, xlsx, ppt, pptx, rtf, pdf, png, jpg, gif, psd, mp3, djvu, fb2, ps and archives containing these formats. Executable files and files over 200 Mb are not allowed. Video chat is also available (for users who allow incoming calls) since 2012. 18. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-18) ["Types of community pages"](https://vk.com/pages?oid=-59800369&p=%D0%92%D1%8B%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%80_%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B0_%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%89%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B0). vk.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200317235028/https://vk.com/pages?oid=-59800369&p=%D0%92%D1%8B%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%80_%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B0_%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%89%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B0) from the original on 17 March 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2018. 19. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-19) ["Vkontakte Music 2.0"](https://vk.com/blog/vkmusic). vk.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170508111607/https://vk.com/blog/vkmusic) from the original on 8 May 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2018. 20. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-20) ["Alexa - top sites in Russia"](https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/RU). Alexa.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090403051929/https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/RU) from the original on 3 April 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2017. 21. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-21) ["Alexa - top sites in Belarus"](https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/BY). Alexa.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090403040639/https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/BY) from the original on 3 April 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2017. 22. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-22) ["Alexa - top sites in Kazakhstan"](https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/KZ). Alexa.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090403041732/https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/KZ) from the original on 3 April 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2017. 23. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-23) ["Alexa - top sites in Kyrgyzstan"](https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/KG). Alexa.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090403041632/https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/KG) from the original on 3 April 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2017. 24. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-24) ["Alexa - top sites in Moldova"](https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/MD). Alexa.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090403042044/https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/MD) from the original on 3 April 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2017. 25. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-25) ["Alexa - top sites in Latvia"](https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/LV). Alexa.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090403030721/https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/LV) from the original on 3 April 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2017. 26. ^ [*a](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-UbRwM17_26-0) [b](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-UbRwM17_26-1) ["Ukraine's Poroshenko to block Russian social networks"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210109061726/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39934666). [BBC News](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_News "BBC News"). 16 May 2017. Archived from [the original](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39934666) on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2018. 27. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-27)* ["Banned VK social network remains fourth in Internet traffic in Ukraine in May"](https://web.archive.org/web/20201130004557/https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/511662.html). [Interfax-Ukraine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interfax-Ukraine "Interfax-Ukraine"). 13 June 2018. Archived from [the original](https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/511662.html) on 30 November 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2018. 28. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-28) ["Alexa - top sites in Ukraine"](https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/UA). Alexa.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090403052252/https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/UA) from the original on 3 April 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2019. 29. ^ [*a](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-withoutVKontakte653664_29-0) [b](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-withoutVKontakte653664_29-1) ["Three years without VKontakte: what social networks do Ukrainians prefer"](https://web.archive.org/web/20191114085918/https://www.epravda.com.ua/publications/2019/11/14/653664/). [Ukrayinska Pravda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrayinska_Pravda "Ukrayinska Pravda")* (in Ukrainian). 14 November 2019. Archived from [the original](https://www.epravda.com.ua/publications/2019/11/14/653664/) on 14 November 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019. 30. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-30) ["Rossiyskaya Gazeta: Most Russians ready to move to domestic social media platforms"](https://rg.ru/2022/03/23/bolshinstvo-rossiian-gotovy-perejti-v-otechestvennye-socseti.html). Rossiyskaya Gazeta. 24 March 2022. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220420222757/https://rg.ru/2022/03/23/bolshinstvo-rossiian-gotovy-perejti-v-otechestvennye-socseti.html) from the original on 20 April 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022. 31. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-31) ["Lev Leviev sells Russian social network stake"](http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000837139&fid=1725). Globes. 18 April 2013. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130706172334/http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000837139&fid=1725) from the original on 6 July 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013. 32. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-owners_32-0) [Кто в контакте](http://www.vedomosti.ru/newspaper/article/142644/) (in Russian). Vedomosti. 29 February 2008. 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Retrieved 12 November 2018. 102. ^ [*a](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-intermedia.ru_102-0) [b](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-intermedia.ru_102-1) [""ВКонтакте" завершит год вручением своей первой музыкальной премии"](http://www.intermedia.ru/news/318143). 15 December 2017. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181028120626/http://www.intermedia.ru/news/318143) from the original on 28 October 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018. 103. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-103)* ["VK Music: Listen to songs and music online for free \\| VK"](https://vk.com/music?z=video-147845620_456239019). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220311181802/https://vk.com/login?u=2&to=L2F1ZGlvPw--) from the original on 11 March 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2019. 104. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-104) ["В Москве прошла премия VK Music Awards. Были названы 30 главных треков года"](https://the-flow.ru/news/vk-music-awards). The-Flow.ru (in Russian). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181204114857/https://the-flow.ru/news/vk-music-awards) from the original on 4 December 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018. 105. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_$service$#cite_ref-105) ["В Петербурге на выходных пройдет третий VK Fest"](https://rg.ru/2017/07/14/reg-szfo/v-peterburge-na-vyhodnyh-projdet-tretij-vk-fest.html). Российская газета (in Russian). 14 July 2017. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190307191538/https://rg.ru/2017/07/14/reg-szfo/v-peterburge-na-vyhodnyh-projdet-tretij-vk-fest.html) from the original on 7 March 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2018. - Friedrichsen, Mike; Mühl-Benninghaus, Wolfgang, eds. (2013). [Handbook of Social Media Management](https://books.google.com/books?id=ETHak9WHJGAC&q=vkontakte). Berlin: Springer. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_$identifier$ "ISBN (identifier)") [978-3-642-28897-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-642-28897-5 "Special:BookSources/978-3-642-28897-5") .
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