Russia has imposed further curbs on Telegram, citing failure to curb criminal activity, drawing criticism from politicians and regional officials who warn the restrictions could disrupt communications for soldiers and civilians.
Russia’s tightening restrictions on the messaging app Telegram have drawn criticism from politicians, regional officials and military-linked users, who warn the measures could disrupt battlefield coordination and cut soldiers off from their families.
The state communications regulator, which began limiting Telegram’s voice and video call functions in August last year, announced on Tuesday that additional restrictions would be introduced. It cited what it described as Telegram’s failure to take sufficient steps to curb criminal and extremist use of the platform.
In recent days, some users have reported that the app’s performance has slowed noticeably.
Three men identifying themselves as members of a Russian anti-drone unit released brief video messages appealing to the regulator not to interfere with the service. They said Telegram was essential for their operational work.
Sergei Mironov, head of a pro-Kremlin party in parliament, shared the videos and argued that curbs on the platform could endanger troops.
“The guys are shedding blood there, they need normal communication, and besides Telegram, they often have nothing,” he wrote. “Don’t deprive them of what helps them fight the enemy and keep themselves alive.”
In remarks to reporters, Mironov criticised those responsible for restricting the app, calling them “idiots” for undermining a key communications channel.
Telegram remains one of the most widely used platforms in Russia for both private messaging and public updates, and has played a central role in shaping narratives — both factual and false — about the war in Ukraine.
Concerns over frontline coordination
Russian military bloggers and commentators have often described Telegram as an important tool for troops on the front lines. The Kremlin, however, played down that assertion.
“I don’t think it’s possible to imagine frontline communications being provided via Telegram or some other messaging service,” presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists, directing further inquiries to the Defence Ministry. The ministry did not immediately comment.
Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine and frequently targeted by drone strikes, said he feared the latest measures could hamper efforts to issue urgent safety alerts to residents.
“I’m concerned that the slowdown could impact the delivery of operational information to you if the situation worsens,” he said, encouraging citizens to sign up for the state-backed MAX messaging platform.
Critics argue that the restrictions on Telegram — along with previous curbs affecting foreign-based services such as Meta’s WhatsApp and Apple’s FaceTime — are intended to steer users toward MAX. They contend the domestic alternative could be used for surveillance purposes, an allegation that state media have rejected.
Telegram’s Russian-born founder Pavel Durov said the app would remain committed to protecting free speech and user privacy ”no matter the pressure”.
Kremlin spokesman Peskov said the communications watchdog was simply doing its job.
”We can only express regret here; there’s nothing good about this, but the law must be followed,” he said.
With inputs from agencies
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