Claude users report bans after KYC checks with Russian passports

Users of Anthropic's Claude report that the company is now banning accounts after identity checks if the person submits a Russian passport. According to posts in a Reddit thread, many users confirm the same pattern, and subscription fees are not refunded after a ban.

How the checks work

The process reportedly begins when the system flags behavior as suspicious. Using a VPN falls into that category. Anthropic then asks the user to complete KYC (know your customer) verification, which means proving their identity by presenting a passport. If the document is Russian, the account is blocked.

Having a visa or residence permit for a country where Claude is officially available does not appear to help, according to the reports. Holders of Chinese passports are said to run into the same treatment.

Background and open questions

Claude is not officially available in Russia, and many people there use a VPN to get around the restriction. The new reports follow earlier accounts of mass bans linked to VPN use.

The situation raises a practical question for a large group of people: many Russian citizens live abroad, in countries where Claude is legally offered, yet they may still be blocked because of the nationality on their document. Anthropic has not been quoted in the available material, and it is unclear whether this is a formal policy or an automated enforcement outcome.

For paying users, the lack of refunds adds financial risk. Anyone who relies on Claude through a VPN, or who holds a passport from a restricted country, may want to consider how much they depend on the service and whether they could lose access without recourse.