The Ukrainian government has banned officials, military personnel, and workers in critical sectors from using the Telegram messaging app on state-issued devices.
This decision, announced by Ukraine’s National Cybersecurity Coordination Center, is part of the country’s effort to protect national security during the ongoing war with Russia.
The ban, announced on Friday by Ukraine’s Security and Defense Council, applies to government employees, military staff, defense workers, and critical infrastructure employees. The council stated on Facebook that Telegram is actively used by Russia for cyberattacks, phishing, malware distribution, and even missile strike coordination by locating users.
Exceptions to the ban will be made for those using the app as part of their official duties. Ukrainians can still use Telegram on their personal devices.
The app is widely used in Ukraine for messaging and reading news, including updates on Russian air attacks. Many Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, use Telegram to communicate with the public and share war updates. Zelenskyy is expected to continue using the platform for public announcements.
Ukraine’s intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, emphasized the risks, stating that Russian intelligence services can access users’ private messages and personal data, even deleted content. He clarified, “I have always advocated and continue to advocate for freedom of speech, but the issue of Telegram is not a matter of freedom of speech; it is a matter of national security.”
