Foreign intelligence services are reportedly able to access Telegram messages sent by Russian soldiers in Ukraine, Russia’s minister for digital development said on Wednesday, a disclosure that raises fresh concerns over the security of communications used by military personnel amid the conflict.
Maksud Shadayev told the Interfax news agency that foreign spy agencies have the ability to intercept messages sent by Russian troops via the widely used messaging app, which has long been popular in both Russia and Ukraine for civilian and military communications. The claim underlines growing anxiety in Moscow over the vulnerability of digital platforms at a time when secure communication is crucial on the battlefield.
Shadayev’s comments came as Russia has tightened restrictions on Telegram, accusing the platform of failing to remove extremist and illegal content. Authorities have already limited features on the app, including voice and video calls, and there is speculation that Telegram could face a complete ban in Russia later this year if it does not comply with local regulatory demands. Critics argue that restrictions risk undermining communication for both soldiers and civilians.
Telegram, founded by Pavel Durov and based in Dubai, remains a key communication tool for millions of users across Russia and Ukraine. Despite its widespread use, the platform’s default settings do not encrypt all messages end-to-end — meaning that many chats are stored on servers and could be vulnerable to interception unless users specifically enable “secret chats,” which offer stronger encryption. Experts say this technical nuance makes some communications less secure than many users assume.
The Russian minister’s statement adds to continuing debate over the security of messaging platforms during the war. In response to earlier concerns, Ukrainian authorities have banned the use of Telegram on official government and military devices, citing fear that Russia’s security services could access messages and user data. Ukraine’s security council said the restriction applied only to official devices and not personal phones, emphasising national security risks while noting the app’s importance in public communication.
Telegram has historically played a significant role in communication related to the conflict, serving not only as a messaging hub but also as a source of war news, maps, videos and official updates from both Ukrainian and Russian sources. The platform’s open-channel design has made it a key outlet for documentation of battlefield developments, though security experts caution about misleading information and potential exploitation by intelligence services.
The latest disclosures underline broader cybersecurity concerns in the Russia-Ukraine war, where digital communication platforms and messaging apps have become entwined with battlefield operations, intelligence gathering and information warfare. As both sides adapt to evolving threats, the security of these digital channels remains a significant aspect of modern conflict.
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