Russia reportedly orders troops to delete Telegram amid battlefield security fears
Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine have reportedly been ordered to delete the messaging app Telegram from their phones, according to pro-war channels cited by the newspaper The Moscow Times.
Sources linked to the “Two Majors” Telegram channel said troops were instructed to remove the app or face reassignment to assault units. Military police have reportedly been tasked with checking soldiers’ phones for the application.
As an alternative, some units have suggested switching to the messenger Max. However, according to the same sources, the installation of that app has also been restricted in certain formations.
Some combat chat groups have already migrated to a state-run messaging service. The move comes as Telegram’s performance is allegedly being slowed, the sources said.
Another pro-war channel, “Belaruski Silovik,” also reported receiving information from the front about orders to delete Telegram. Its author suggested the instructions may originate within individual units rather than from the Defense Ministry, noting that other commanders still rely on the app and oppose switching to Max.
In February, Russia’s security agency, the Federal Security Service, warned that Telegram could pose risks for Russian soldiers deployed in Ukraine. The agency said Ukrainian forces and intelligence services — including the Security Service of Ukraine and the Main Directorate of Intelligence — could quickly obtain information published on the platform and use it for military purposes.
At the time, Russia’s digital development minister, Maksut Shadayev, also accused Telegram of exposing correspondence to foreign intelligence services.
Despite these concerns, a source cited by the Russian outlet RBC said Telegram — which is reportedly expected to be blocked in Russia from April 1 — would likely continue functioning on the battlefield.
Pro-war bloggers argue the app remains a crucial tool for coordinating Russian troops in Ukraine. They say its importance grew after the introduction of “whitelists” for Starlink terminals, which effectively cut Russian forces off from satellite communication devices.
Blocking Telegram entirely, they warn, could have potentially fatal consequences for troops on the front line.
The Kremlin, however, has played down such concerns. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he could not imagine that battlefield communications were being conducted through Telegram.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
