eSIM IO Did Not Work in Russia Despite Successful Activation

During my trip to Russia in March 2026, I purchased and activated an eSIM through the eSIM IO application. Although the line appeared to activate successfully, I was unable to establish any connection because the service could not bypass the 24-hour restriction imposed by Russian operators on foreign users. As a result, I could not use the line or access the internet at all.

At the same time, my friends traveling with me were able to connect to the internet without any issues using eSIMs from other providers. The restriction and connection problem only occurred with the line I purchased through eSIM IO. This situation was especially disappointing because I had not been given any prior warning or information about such a risk before choosing and purchasing the service.

I made the payment using my credit card and later requested a refund because I was unable to use the service. However, despite politely contacting support through the WhatsApp help line, I was told that they could not assist me and no solution or compensation was offered.

Because eSIM IO failed to inform customers in advance about this type of restriction in Russia and later failed to provide either a solution or a refund, I experienced both financial loss and serious inconvenience. I request a refund for the unusable service I paid for and also expect clear and transparent warnings to be provided to users beforehand regarding restrictions like these in countries such as Russia.