Ukraine Bans Telegram on Official Devices Over Russian Security Threats

The ban aims to protect national security by preventing Russian access to sensitive data and communications.

The Defence Council of Ukraine announced the ban on Friday, targeting government, military, and critical infrastructure personnel.
Ukrainian officials cited evidence that Russian intelligence services can access personal data and messages, including deleted ones, through Telegram.
The ban applies only to official devices; government and military personnel can still use Telegram on personal phones for non-official purposes.
Telegram remains a widely used platform in Ukraine for news and public communication, with President Zelenskyy and other officials likely to continue using it for public updates.
The decision follows a presentation by Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, who emphasized the move as a matter of national security, not freedom of speech.