Ukraine has recently made the decision to ban the use of the popular messaging platform, Telegram, on all official devices issued to government and military personnel, as well as employees in the defence sector and critical infrastructure. This move was made in an effort to protect the country from potential threats posed by Russia, who launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
According to the country’s National Security and Defence Council (Rnbo), Telegram has been actively used by the enemy for cyber-attacks, phishing and the distribution of malicious software. The platform has also been used to track user locations and even correct missile strikes. The Rnbo stated that this ban was agreed upon during a meeting of top information security officials, military leaders, and lawmakers.
The ban was supported by military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov, who presented evidence of Russian special services’ ability to access personal correspondence of Telegram users, including deleted messages. While Budanov emphasized his support for freedom of speech, he stated that the issue of Telegram is a matter of national security.
The Rnbo clarified that the ban only applies to official devices and not personal smartphones. Government officials and military personnel will still be able to maintain and update their official Telegram pages. It was also noted that last year, a survey found that Telegram was the top social platform in Ukraine for news consumption, with 72% of Ukrainians using it.
Telegram, which offers end-to-end encryption, was co-founded by Russian-born Pavel Durov and his brother in 2013. Durov left Russia a year later after refusing to comply with government demands to shut down opposition communities on the platform. Recently, Durov, who is also a French national, has been placed under formal investigation in France as part of a probe into organized crime. This has sparked a debate about freedom of speech, accountability, and how platforms moderate content.
In July, Durov claimed that Telegram has reached 950 million monthly active users.