Ukraine has officially banned the use of the Telegram messaging app by government officials, military personnel, and critical infrastructure workers, announced by the National Coordination Centre for Cybersecurity (NCCC) in a Facebook post.

The decision stems from concerns about the app's potential exploitation by Russia for intelligence and cyberattacks.

The National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) emphasized that Telegram has been “actively used by the enemy” for cyber espionage and attacks. The app has reportedly facilitated the spread of phishing messages, malware, and efforts to track the geolocation of users. These tactics, the NSDC said, are aiding the Russian military in targeting Ukrainian facilities with drone and missile strikes.

Consequently, Telegram is now prohibited on the official devices of state employees, military personnel, workers in the security and defense sectors, and those employed in critical infrastructure. Exceptions to the ban will be made only for individuals whose work responsibilities require the use of the messaging app.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the General Staff of the Armed Forces (ГШ ЗСУ) have echoed these concerns, reiterating that Telegram is being used by Russia to orchestrate cyberattacks, disseminate phishing campaigns, and adjust missile strikes based on users' locations.

However, the ban does not extend to personal devices, allowing government and military personnel to continue using the app privately.

In its turn, Telegram said that it has not shared any personal data with any country, including Russia. The company stressed that deleted messages on the platform are permanently erased and cannot be recovered.

This development follows a separate incident in which Telegram's CEO Pavel Durov was arrested in France and later released on bail amid investigations into the app's role in facilitating child pornography, drug trafficking, and fraud.