Ukraine bans Telegram for officials amid spy fears
Telegram’s founder denies sharing user data but Ukrainian officials stress the need for national security.
Ukraine has banned the Telegram messaging app for government officials and critical workers due to concerns about Russian espionage. The National Security and Defence Council implemented these restrictions after Kyrylo Budanov, head of the military intelligence agency, presented evidence indicating that Russian special services could access Telegram messages, including deleted ones.
The ban only affects official devices, allowing government personnel to use personal phones without restriction. Despite its risks, Telegram has played a crucial role in communication and information sharing since the onset of the war in February 2022, with a significant portion of the Ukrainian population relying on the app for updates.
Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has denied claims that the platform shares user data with any country, including Russia. He emphasised that deleted messages are permanently erased and cannot be recovered. However, Ukrainian security officials maintain that the national security implications necessitate this decision.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and various officials regularly use Telegram to communicate vital updates. With approximately 75% of people in Ukraine using the app, the restrictions mark a significant shift in the approach to information security amid ongoing conflict.
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