Ukraine bans Telegram on official devices, citing national security concerns

On Friday, Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council announced a ban on the messaging app Telegram on official devices used by government officials, military personnel and key workers, a move that came amid concerns about potential Russian espionage.

Evidence presented by Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukrainian military intelligence, indicates that Russian intelligence services have the ability to spy on Telegram messages and users, including accessing deleted messages and personal data.

However, Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Security Council’s center for countering disinformation, clarified that the ban applies only to official devices, not personal phones. Despite Telegram’s assurances about data security, Ukrainian officials consider the app’s use during the ongoing war a serious threat to national security.

(Based on information from the agency.)