Ukraine has banned the use of the Telegram messaging app on official devices used by state officials, military personnel, and critical workers due to national security concerns. The National Security and Defence Council implemented these restrictions after Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency, provided evidence of Russian special services’ ability to monitor the platform.
Ukrainian officials believe that Russia, which owns the app through a Russian national, can access users’ messages, including deleted ones. To safeguard national security, Telegram is restricted on official devices, but this ban does not extend to personal phones, as confirmed by Andriy Kovalenko, head of the security council’s center for countering disinformation.
Since the onset of the war in 2022, Ukrainian security officials have raised concerns about Telegram as a vital communication tool in both Ukraine and Russia. Reports indicate that approximately 75% of Ukrainians use the app for communication, and 72% view it as a key information source. As of the end of last year, there were around 33,000 active channels in Ukraine. The app is also utilized by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, military commanders, and local officials to provide updates on the war and communicate important decisions.
