The National Cybersecurity Coordination Center (NCCC) has decided to restrict the use of the Telegram messenger within government bodies, military formations, and critical infrastructure facilities in Ukraine. This was reported by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) on Facebook.
"On September 19, a meeting of the National Cybersecurity Coordination Center (NCCC)—the key coordinating and oversight body in the field of cybersecurity—was held. At the beginning of the meeting, NSDC Secretary Oleksandr Lytvynenko highlighted the importance of uniting efforts to strengthen national security and effectively counter threats in cyberspace. The key topic of the meeting was the discussion of national security threats associated with the use of Telegram, especially during the full-scale war waged by russia against Ukraine", - the report stated.
It was noted that Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate, provided substantiated evidence of russian intelligence services having access to users' personal messages on Telegram, including deleted messages, as well as their personal data.
"I have always advocated for freedom of speech, but the issue with Telegram is not about freedom of speech—it is about national security", - emphasized Budanov.
Representatives of the Security Service of Ukraine and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine pointed out that Telegram is actively used by the enemy for cyberattacks, phishing, spreading malware, tracking users' geolocation, and adjusting missile strikes, among other activities.
To minimize these threats, the decision was made to prohibit the installation and use of Telegram on the official devices of government employees, military personnel, workers in the security and defense sectors, as well as employees of critical infrastructure operators in Ukraine.
The only exceptions will be those individuals for whom the use of the messenger is part of their official duties.