Ukraine has prohibited the use of the Telegram messaging platform on official devices issued to government and military personnel, as well as employees in the defense sector and those working with critical infrastructure.
This decision was made by the National Security and Defence Council to mitigate the risks posed by Russia, which began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The Rnbo stated that Telegram is frequently exploited by adversaries for cyber-attacks, the spread of phishing schemes and malware, tracking user locations, and guiding missile strikes.
This announcement was made on Friday following a meeting of Ukraine’s key information security officials, military representatives, and lawmakers.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, presented solid evidence during the meeting that Russian special services could access personal communications on Telegram, including messages that had been deleted.
Budanov emphasized the gravity of the situation, saying, “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.”
Despite the ban, officials whose roles require the use of Telegram will be allowed to continue using the platform. The restrictions specifically apply to official devices, not personal ones.
Head of the Rnbo’s center on countering disinformation, Andriy Kovalenko, clarified that government officials and military personnel could still maintain and update their official Telegram channels using personal devices.
Telegram is widely used by both the Ukrainian and Russian governments and militaries.
In Ukraine, the platform is particularly popular for news consumption.
A USAID-Internews survey from the previous year indicated that 72% of Ukrainians use Telegram for this purpose.
Telegram, which provides end-to-end encryption, was established in 2013 by Russian-born brothers Pavel and Nikolai Durov. Pavel Durov left Russia a year later, refusing to comply with government orders to shut down opposition groups on the platform. He has since become a French national.
In August, Durov faced legal scrutiny in France, being placed under formal investigation as part of a broader probe into organized crime.
His case has sparked a debate about the balance between freedom of speech, accountability, and the regulation of content on digital platforms.
Despite the controversies, Telegram has continued to grow. In July, Durov announced that the platform had reached 950 million monthly active users, demonstrating its widespread appeal and influence.
