Deepshikha Maan, Jadetimes Staff
D. Maan is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia
Ukraine Prohibits Telegram on Official Devices for Security Reasons
Ukraine has prohibited the use of the Telegram messaging app on official devices allocated to government and military personnel, as well as employees in the defense sector and critical infrastructure. This decision, announced by the National Security and Defence Council (Rnbo), aims to "minimize" threats from Russia, which has been engaged in a full-scale invasion of Ukraine since 2022.
The Rnbo stated that Telegram is being exploited by adversaries for cyber-attacks, the dissemination of phishing and malware, user geolocation, and missile strike corrections. In their announcement, they noted that this ban was agreed upon during a meeting with key information security officials, military leaders, and lawmakers. Military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov presented credible evidence indicating that Russian special services could access Telegram users' personal messages, even those that had been deleted.
Budanov emphasized the importance of national security over freedom of speech regarding this issue, stating, "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." The Rnbo specified that officials whose work necessitates the use of Telegram would be exempt from this ban.
It is important to note that the ban applies solely to official devices, and government officials and military personnel are still permitted to manage and update their official Telegram accounts. According to a USAID-Internews survey from last year, Telegram is the leading platform for news consumption in Ukraine, with 72% of Ukrainians using it.
Telegram, known for its end-to-end encryption, was co-founded in 2013 by Pavel Durov and his brother. Durov departed Russia the following year after refusing to comply with government orders to shut down opposition channels. Recently, Durov has come under formal investigation in France as part of an organized crime inquiry, igniting discussions about freedom of speech, accountability, and content moderation on social platforms.
