MOSCOW, April 4 (Reuters) – Telegram founder Pavel Durov said ‌on Saturday Russia’s attempt ‌to block Virtual Private Networks ​triggered a problem with a domestic payment system, adding that tens of millions of ‌Russians were ⁠now resisting the digital controls.

The issue sowed ⁠chaos on Friday for some shoppers, forcing the Moscow ​metro to ​allow ​entry without payment ‌through its turnstiles, while a regional zoo had to ask visitors to use cash.

“Their blocking attempts just triggered ‌a massive banking ​failure,” Durov said ​on ​Telegram. “Welcome back to ‌the Digital Resistance, my ​Russian ​brothers and sisters. The entire nation is now mobilised ​to ‌bypass these absurd restrictions.”

(Reporting ​by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by ​Clarence Fernandez)