Microsoft has stopped Windows 10 and 11 downloads in Russia

Microsoft, which has downsized its operations in Russia due to the tension between Russia and Ukraine, may now have silently disabled Windows 10 and 11 downloads in the country.

Microsoft remains silent

First discovered by Russia’s TASS news agency and reported by BleepingComputer, many users in the country trying to reach the Windows 10 Update Assistant, Windows 10 Media Creation Tool, and Windows 11 Setup Assistant are now getting a “404 – Not a File or Directory” message. encounters an error message.

However, while it is reported that Windows downloads continue without any problems when connected to a VPN server located outside of Russia, Roskomsvoboda, the Russian non-governmental organization that supports the protection of the digital rights of internet users in the country, made a strange statement today.

Despite the Russian government’s opposition to VPN use, Roskomsvoboda declared that “users in the country will not be penalized for VPN use.”

It’s unclear at this time whether the shared issue is a technical bug or if Microsoft is intentionally blocking downloads. Also, BleepingComputer, which has tried to reach Microsoft regarding the issue, says it has not received any response from the software giant.