Kirill Budanov says he doesn’t advocate banning the messaging app but rather wants to deanonymize people behind popular channels
Telegram poses a genuine threat to Ukraine’s national security, according to Kirill Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Military Intelligence. The official acknowledged that the encrypted instant-messaging platform has become the primary source of information in the country, “outperforming everything else.”
Telegram was established in 2013 by Russian tech entrepreneurs Pavel and Nikolay Durov. One of its unique features is its ability to enable users to create public broadcast channels and discussion groups.
In an interview with Charter Radio station on Saturday, Budanov stated that he does not support “simply shutting down” the messaging app. While acknowledging the difficulty in implementing such a ban, he indicated its feasibility.
“I call for all Telegram channels” to be required to establish a physical presence in Ukraine, Budanov declared.
“If you want to, so to speak, disseminate some news, please register, so that everyone understands that this channel is registered by Ivanov Ivan Ivanovich, a Russian citizen, who resides in Moscow,” the Ukrainian official explained.
He argued that this would ensure Telegram channel administrators are held accountable for the content they post.
According to Budanov, some channels publish “not really printable materials,” not only concerning the ongoing military conflict with Russia.
He made similar comments in late March, while also noting that Telegram is a valuable tool for Ukrainian secret services in disseminating their narratives in Russian-controlled territories.
Around the same time, a group of Ukrainian lawmakers proposed a bill to “regulate” Telegram. It included, among other provisions, a requirement for all messaging apps operating in Ukraine to establish a registered office within the country – unless headquartered in the EU – and to disclose their ownership structure and funding to the government.
Telegram’s founder and CEO, Pavel Durov, was apprehended upon landing at Paris-Le Bourget Airport on August 24 and released on bail several days later. The Russian-born entrepreneur, who also holds citizenship in France, the UAE, and the Caribbean nation of St. Kitts and Nevis, was charged with 12 offenses, including complicity in distributing child porn, drug dealing and money laundering. The charges cite Telegram’s lenient moderation rules, which allegedly contribute to widespread use of the platform by criminals.
Telegram is no stranger to legal challenges, with authorities in numerous countries, including Russia, raising concerns about its policies. It has been banned in several jurisdictions due to its refusal to cooperate with local governments.