KYIV, (TDI): Ukraine has banned the use of the Telegram messaging app on official devices used by government officials, military personnel, and critical workers, citing concerns that Russia could spy on messages and users.
The decision was announced by the National Security and Defence Council following a presentation from Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency, who provided evidence of Russian special services’ capabilities to monitor the platform.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the security council’s counter-disinformation center, clarified that the restrictions apply only to official devices and not to personal phones.
Telegram is widely used in both Ukraine and Russia and has become a vital source of information since the Russian invasion in February 2022.
However, Ukrainian security officials have raised ongoing concerns about its use during the conflict.
Founded by Russian-born Pavel Durov, who left Russia in 2014 after refusing to comply with government demands to shut down opposition groups on his previous platform VKontakte, Telegram is based in Dubai.
Recently, Durov was arrested in France as part of an investigation into serious crimes linked to the app.
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The Security Council’s statement indicated that Budanov had presented evidence showing that Russian intelligence could access Telegram messages, including deleted ones, along with users’ personal data.
Budanov emphasized that while he supports freedom of speech, the issue of Telegram is primarily one of national security.
In response to the ban, Telegram stated that it has never disclosed user data or message content, asserting that deleted messages are irretrievably erased.
The company claimed that instances of “leaked messages” are the result of compromised devices, whether through malware or confiscation.
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According to the Telemetrio database, approximately 33,000 Telegram channels are active in Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, along with military commanders and regional officials, frequently uses the app to share updates on the war and important decisions.
Ukrainian media estimate that around 75% of Ukrainians use Telegram for communication, with 72% considering it a key information source as of the end of last year.
