Ukraine Bans Telegram Use on State-Issued Devices Amid Security Concerns

Ukraine has announced a ban on the use of the Telegram messaging platform for government and military personnel, as well as employees in the defense and critical infrastructure sectors. The move, led by Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council (Rnbo), aims to minimize the risks posed by Russia in the ongoing conflict, which escalated with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

The Rnbo stated that Telegram has been used by Russian forces for cyber-attacks, including phishing schemes, malware distribution, user geolocation, and missile strike coordination. Military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov presented evidence during a security meeting suggesting that Russian special services can access even deleted messages of Telegram users.

While Telegram has denied sharing any user data with governments, including Russia, Ukrainian officials have stressed that the decision is based on national security, not freedom of speech. Government and military officials responsible for maintaining official Telegram pages will be exempt from the ban.

The ban reflects heightened concerns about cybersecurity in the midst of the war, as Telegram remains widely used by both Ukrainian and Russian entities for communication.