Ukraine Bans Telegram Use on Official Devices

Ukraine Bans Telegram Use on Official Devices

Ukraine has banned the use of the Telegram messaging platform on official devices used by government employees, military personnel, defense sector staff, and workers in critical infrastructure, according to the BBC.

The Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council stated that this measure was taken to reduce the risks posed by Russia, which launched a full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022, the BBC reported.

According to the Council’s statement, Russia actively uses Telegram to carry out cyberattacks, inject phishing and malware, locate users, and adjust missile strikes.

In a statement to the BBC, Telegram responded by saying it has never provided any user data to any country, including Russia. Both the Ukrainian and Russian governments and militaries use Telegram extensively.

The National Security and Defense Council said the ban was agreed upon during a meeting of senior cybersecurity officials, military leaders, and lawmakers in Ukraine.

It further stated that Ukraine's head of military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, provided credible evidence showing that Russian special services could access personal Telegram messages, including deleted ones.

Budanov was quoted as saying, "I have always supported and continue to support freedom of speech, but the issue with Telegram is not about free speech; it's about national security."

The council clarified that officials whose work duties required the use of Telegram would be exempt from the ban.

Separately, Andriy Kovalenko, head of the National Security and Defense Council’s Anti-Disinformation Center, confirmed that the ban only applies to official devices, not personal smartphones. Government officials and military personnel will still be able to manage and update their official Telegram pages.

Last year, a survey conducted by the U.S. Agency for International Development and Internews found that Telegram was the most popular social media platform in Ukraine for following news, with 72% of Ukrainians using it.

In response to Ukraine’s allegations, a Telegram spokesperson stated that the company would be interested in reviewing any evidence supporting Budanov's claims, adding, "To our knowledge, no such evidence exists."

Telegram also noted that "deleted messages are permanently erased and cannot technically be recovered." The company emphasized that every case of alleged leaked messages investigated by Telegram had been the result of a compromised device, either through seizure or malware.