Foreign spies can see Telegram messages sent by Russian soldiers, Ifax cites minister

Foreign intelligence services ​are able ​to see messages sent by Russian soldiers ​using the Telegram messaging app, Russia's minister for digital development Maksud Shadayev said on Wednesday, the Interfax ‌news ⁠agency reported.

Telegram, ⁠one of the most popular messenger ​services in Russia, is widely used by Russian forces fighting ​in Ukraine, but is under pressure from the authorities who have imposed restrictions on ​it over what they ⁠say is ‌its failure to delete extremist ​content.

"There ​are numerous indications that foreign intelligence ⁠agencies have access to the messenger's correspondence and ​are using this data against ​the Russian military," Shadayev was cited as saying.


Roskomnadzor, Russia's communications regulator, has said it is slowing down Telegram's service amid a wider crackdown on foreign-owned messengers ‌who it says have failed to comply with Russian law.

The Kremlin confirmed ​last ​week that ⁠U.S. messenger app WhatsApp, owned by Meta Platforms META.O, has been completely blocked for failing to comply with ​local law, suggesting Russians turn to a state-backed "national messenger" - MAX - instead.

Critics say MAX is a surveillance tool. Russian authorities deny this.