Ukraine has announced a ban on the use of Telegram by its military, government agencies, and critical infrastructure workers due to concerns over Russian espionage.
The decision was made following claims by Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov, who provided evidence suggesting that Russian agents could access private chats and personal data on the app, even deleted messages. This has raised national security concerns, particularly amidst Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia.
The ban, which applies to all official devices in the security, defense, and infrastructure sectors, stems from the fear that Russian hackers are using Telegram to launch phishing attacks and spread malware. These cyber threats could expose the locations of military personnel or government workers, potentially leading to missile strikes.
Although Ukraine’s government will still use Telegram for public communications, officials argue the move is necessary to protect against Russian spying efforts. Budanov emphasized that the decision is about national security rather than limiting freedom of speech.
