Ukraine has banned the use of the Telegram messaging platform on official devices issued to government, military personnel, and employees in the defense and critical infrastructure sectors. The decision, announced by the National Security and Defence Council (RNBO), aims to minimize potential security threats posed by Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The RNBO emphasized that Telegram has been actively used by Russian forces for cyber-attacks, phishing campaigns, spreading malicious software, tracking user geolocation, and correcting missile strikes. The platform is widely used by both the government and military personnel in Ukraine and Russia.
According to the RNBO’s statement, the ban was agreed upon following a meeting of Ukraine’s top information security officials, military representatives, and lawmakers. Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, presented evidence suggesting that Russian special services had the ability to access Telegram users’ personal correspondence, including deleted messages.
“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,” Budanov said.
While the ban applies to state-issued devices, officials for whom Telegram is a necessary work tool are exempt. Andriy Kovalenko, head of the RNBO’s center for countering disinformation, clarified that the restriction does not extend to personal devices, allowing government officials and military personnel to continue maintaining and updating their official Telegram pages.
Telegram remains a prominent platform in Ukraine, with a 2022 USAID-Internews survey showing that 72% of Ukrainians use it for news consumption. Despite its end-to-end encryption features, the platform has faced scrutiny due to its potential security vulnerabilities.
Telegram, founded in 2013 by Russian-born brothers Pavel and Nikolai Durov, has a history of defying government pressures. Pavel Durov left Russia in 2014 after refusing to shut down opposition groups on the platform. Currently a French national, Durov was placed under formal investigation in France in 2023 as part of a probe into organized crime, reigniting debates about freedom of speech, accountability, and content moderation.
In July 2023, Durov announced that Telegram had reached 950 million monthly active users.
