Ukraine Bans Official Use of Telegram Over Russian Spying Concerns

Ukraine has banned the use of the Telegram messaging app on official devices belonging to government officials, military personnel, and critical workers, citing fears that Russia could be using the platform to spy on messages and users. This decision was announced by Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council on Friday, following a presentation by Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, GUR, who provided evidence of Russian special services’ ability to intercept communications via the app.

Andriy Kovalenko, the head of the security council’s disinformation center, clarified that the restrictions only apply to official devices and do not extend to personal phones. Despite Telegram’s widespread use in both Ukraine and Russia, security officials have repeatedly raised concerns over its safety during the ongoing war.

Telegram, founded by Russian-born Pavel Durov, has been a significant communication tool since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022. However, Ukraine’s security authorities believe that Russia’s special services can access Telegram messages, including deleted ones, as well as users’ personal data.

In response, Telegram issued a statement denying any cooperation with Russia or any other country, asserting that it had never provided access to any user data or messages. Telegram also reiterated that deleted messages are permanently erased and cannot be retrieved. They attributed any leaked messages to compromised devices, such as those infected with malware or seized by authorities.

While the Ukrainian government is restricting Telegram on official devices, the platform remains highly popular among Ukrainians. A survey found that 75% of Ukrainians use Telegram for communication, with 72% regarding it as a key source of information.