Telegram is heavily used in both Ukraine and Russia and has become a critical source of information since the Russian invasion.

"I have always advocated freedom of speech, but the issue of Telegram is not a matter of freedom of speech, it is a matter of national security," Ukraine's military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov,

Ukraine has banned government officials, military personnel and other defense and critical infrastructure workers from installing the popular Telegram messaging app on state-issued devices, describing the move as necessary for national security during the war with Russia.

Military personnel and civil servants are prohibited from using Telegram on work devices. However, there are exceptions, according to the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC). "The National Cybersecurity Coordination Center (NCCC) has decided to restrict the use of Telegram in government bodies,