KYIV: Ukraine has banned the use of the Telegram messaging app on devices used by government officials, military personnel, and critical workers because it believes its enemy Russia can spy on both messages and users, the National Security and Defence Council said.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency, presented compelling evidence to the council indicating that Russian special services could intercept Telegram messages, including those that had been deleted, as well as access personal user data. Following this presentation, the council deemed the restrictions necessary for safeguarding sensitive information.
Andriy Kovalenko, the head of the security council’s center for countering disinformation, clarified that the ban applies exclusively to official devices and does not extend to personal smartphones, allowing civilians to continue using the app for communication.
Telegram, founded by Russian-born Pavel Durov, has become a vital tool for information dissemination in both Ukraine and Russia since the onset of the war in February 2022. Despite its popularity, Ukrainian security officials have consistently raised alarms about the potential vulnerabilities associated with the app.
In recent developments, Durov faced legal troubles after being arrested in France in August, as part of an investigation into serious criminal activities linked to the platform. This situation has further fueled scrutiny of Telegram’s security.
The Security Council’s statement emphasized the gravity of the situation. Budanov remarked, “I have always supported and continue to support freedom of speech, but the issue of Telegram is not a matter of freedom of speech; it is a matter of national security.”
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In response to the ban, Telegram defended its integrity, asserting that it has never shared user data with any government, including Russia. The platform reiterated that deleted messages are permanently erased and cannot be recovered, attributing any “leaked messages” to compromised devices rather than flaws within the app itself.
Despite the restrictions, Telegram remains widely used in Ukraine. According to the Telemetrio database, approximately 33,000 Telegram channels are active in the country, with President Volodymyr Zelensky and various military commanders frequently providing updates and important announcements via the platform.
Research indicates that around 75% of Ukrainians utilize Telegram for communication, with 72% considering it a key information source as of late last year.
