Fri Sep 20 14:09:00 UTC 2024: ## Ukraine Bans Telegram on Official Devices Over Spy Fears

**KYIV** – In a move to protect national security, Ukraine has banned the use of the Telegram messaging app on all official devices belonging to state officials, military personnel, and critical workers. The decision comes after evidence presented by the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, Kyrylo Budanov, revealed that Russian special services have the capability to access Telegram messages and user data, including deleted messages.

The National Security and Defence Council announced the restrictions on Friday, emphasizing that the ban applies only to official devices and not personal phones. Telegram, popular in both Ukraine and Russia, has become a critical source of information since the Russian invasion in February 2022. However, Ukrainian security officials have repeatedly expressed concerns about its use during the war.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov, who fled Russia in 2014, has been embroiled in controversy, facing arrest in France over allegations related to child pornography, drug trafficking, and fraudulent transactions on Telegram.

The Security Council statement cited Budanov’s evidence that Russian intelligence can access Telegram messages and user data, including deleted messages. “I have always supported and continue to support freedom of speech,” said Budanov, “but the issue of Telegram is not a matter of freedom of speech, it is a matter of national security.”

With approximately 33,000 active Telegram channels in Ukraine, the app is widely used by officials, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, military commanders, and regional and city officials, who regularly publish updates on the war and important decisions on their Telegram channels.

While the ban on official devices may not impact the widespread use of Telegram among the Ukrainian population, it signifies a growing concern about the platform’s potential for security breaches and its exploitation by Russia.

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