Ukraine has officially banned using the Telegram messaging app on devices issued to government officials, military personnel, and employees in the defense and critical infrastructure sectors. The National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine (RNBO) stated that this move is aimed at “minimizing” security threats from Russia, which began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
According to the RNBO, Telegram is being exploited by Russia for cyber-attacks, phishing schemes, the spread of malicious software, tracking user geolocation, and coordinating missile strikes.
In response to these allegations, Telegram stated to the BBC that it has “never provided any messaging data to any country, including Russia.”
This ban reflects growing concerns over the security risks the popular messaging platform poses in the context of ongoing conflict and cyber warfare.
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Telegram, a popular messaging platform used by both the Ukrainian and Russian governments and the military, has now been banned from official devices in Ukraine. The decision was confirmed by Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council (RNBO) following a meeting with top military and information security officials, as well as lawmakers. The ban aims to address national security threats linked to Russian espionage efforts.
Military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov presented evidence suggesting that Russian special services could access Telegram users’ personal communications, including deleted messages. He emphasized, “The issue of Telegram is not about freedom of speech; it’s about national security.”
While the ban applies to government-issued devices, officials using Telegram for work-related purposes are exempt. Personal smartphones are not affected, allowing government and military personnel to continue managing their official Telegram accounts. According to Andriy Kovalenko, head of RNBO’s counter-disinformation center, the restriction is strictly limited to official devices.
Telegram remains a key platform in Ukraine, with 72% of Ukrainians using it for news consumption, according to a USAID-Internews survey from last year. Despite this, Ukraine’s security concerns are significant, given Telegram’s Russian origins.
Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov, who left Russia in 2014 over censorship issues, remains at the center of discussions surrounding freedom of speech and platform accountability. Durov, now a French national, is under investigation in France for alleged ties to organized crime. These controversies, coupled with the platform’s massive reach of 950 million monthly active users, have reignited debates about content moderation and user privacy.
In response to Ukraine’s accusations, a Telegram spokesperson reiterated the platform’s commitment to user privacy, stating that “Telegram has never provided any messaging data to any country, including Russia” and that deleted messages are “technically impossible to recover.” They further suggested that supposed leaks were due to compromised devices rather than flaws in Telegram’s encryption.
As Ukraine continues to navigate the delicate balance between free speech and national security, this move underscores the growing complexities of information warfare in the digital age.
