Ukraine Bans Telegram on State-Issued Devices Over Russian Espionage Concerns

Sep 20, 2024, 12:32 PM

Ukraine has imposed a ban on the use of the Telegram messaging app by government officials, military personnel, civil servants, and critical infrastructure workers. The decision, made by the National Coordination Center for Cybersecurity and announced by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, is effective from September 19. The restriction aims to mitigate security threats, particularly concerns over Russian espionage and cyberattacks. Telegram, founded by Russian-born Pavel Durov, has been cited as a platform used by Russia for cyberattacks, phishing, spreading malware, and calibrating missile strikes. The ban applies to all official state-issued devices of state employees and military personnel.