Ukraine Prohibits Official Use of Telegram Amid Russian Spying Concerns

• Ukraine banned the use of Telegram on official devices due to Russian special services leveraging the app for spying.
• Evidence suggests Russian services could access even deleted messages and users' personal data.
• Since the Russian invasion, Telegram has been heavily used as a critical source of information in both Ukraine and Russia.

Ukraine has banned the use of the Telegram messaging app on official devices used by government officials, military personnel, and critical workers. This action stems from concerns over potential Russian espionage activities, as highlighted by Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council and reported by Reuters.

The restriction on Telegram follows evidence presented by Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's GUR military intelligence agency, indicating that Russian special services possess capabilities to spy on messages and users on the platform. The evidence suggests that these services can access even deleted messages and users' personal data.

While the restriction is imposed on official devices, Andriy Kovalenko from the Security Council's Center on Countering Disinformation clarified that personal devices remain unaffected.

Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, Telegram has been widely used as a critical communication tool in both Ukraine and Russia. Approximately 33,000 Telegram channels are active in Ukraine, and an estimated 75% of Ukrainians use the app for communication, making it a vital information source.

In response to the ban, Telegram reaffirmed its commitment to user privacy, stating that it has never disclosed data to any country, including Russia. It attributed instances of alleged data leaks to compromised devices rather than its system.

Telegram, founded by Russian-born Pavel Durov, operates out of Dubai. Durov left Russia after refusing to comply with government demands to shut down opposition communities on VKontakte, a social media platform he sold.

He was arrested in France in August in connection with investigations into serious criminal activities linked to Telegram. Durov addressed the charges brought against him for alleged criminal activities facilitated through the messaging platform, saying holding a CEO accountable for third-party actions on a digital platform is a “misguided approach.”