Foreign intelligence services are able to see messages sent by Russian soldiers using the Telegram messaging app, Russia's minister for digital development Maksud Shadayev said on Wednesday, the Interfax news agency reported.
Telegram is one of the most popular messenger services in Russia and is widely used by Russian forces fighting in Ukraine. However it's under pressure from the authorities who have imposed restrictions on it over what they say is its failure to delete extremist content.
"There are numerous indications that foreign intelligence agencies have access to the messenger's correspondence and are using this data against the Russian military," Shadayev was cited as saying.
However, the minister did not provide specific technical details on how foreign spies are allegedly accessing the encrypted messages.
Roskomnadzor, Russia's communications regulator, has said it is slowing down Telegram's service amid a wider crackdown on foreign-owned messengers who it says have failed to comply with Russian law.
The Kremlin confirmed last week that U.S. messenger app WhatsApp, owned by Meta Platforms, has been completely blocked for failing to comply with local law, suggesting Russians turn to a state-backed "national messenger" - MAX - instead.
However, critics say MAX is a surveillance tool. Russian authorities deny this.
Frontline reliance
Many troops rely on Telegram for vital battlefield tasks. These include coordinating artillery fire, sharing maps, and communicating with commanders, according to reports.
Critics argue that secure military communication systems are often unavailable or unreliable. Soldiers have previously complained about the loss of other communication tools, such as Starlink terminals.
It's reported that both sides of the war in Ukraine use the app extensively for propaganda, recruitment, and battlefield logistics.
Telegram has remained one of the few platforms in Russia where independent news and dissenting voices can still be found.
U.S. President Donald Trump said there was an "all-day negotiation" on Tuesday with Iran, characterising the talks positively while also threatening t...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 5th of August, covering the latest developments....
Turkish top-tier side Trabzonspor said they have begun transfer negotiations with Mohamed Salah, with the club chairman adding they hoped to sign the ...
Tehran had made plans to strike sites in Ukraine after Kyiv attacked an Iranian cargo ship in the Caspian Sea, a senior Iranian military adviser has said. Iran refrained from taking action after Kyiv said the strike was a mistake, Mohsen Rezaei told the state IRIB TV channel.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 5th of August, covering the latest developments.
Nauru, the world’s third smallest country, has changed its name to Naoero, the Pacific island nation’s President said. The new name corresponds to the spelling and pronunciation in the national language.
U.S. President Donald Trump said there was an "all-day negotiation" on Tuesday with Iran, characterising the talks positively while also threatening to hit Iran "really hard" if a deal was not reached.
The U.S. has made its visa bond programme permanent for citizens of 50 countries, requiring some business and tourist visa applicants to pay refundable deposits of up to $20,000. Several Central Asian countries remain on the list, but Uzbekistan is not.
Turkish top-tier side Trabzonspor said they have begun transfer negotiations with Mohamed Salah, with the club chairman adding they hoped to sign the Egyptian forward later this week.
Families of Moroccan migrants who crossed into the Spanish coastal exclave of Ceuta spent Tuesday searching for missing relatives or waiting anxiously for news, after a mass border crossing last week.
Pyongyang signalled possible new military steps after Japan tested a U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missile, Reuters reported.
German police are investigating a suspicious object found near a runway at Leipzig, Halle Airport on Wednesday after an overnight security incident that temporarily disrupted operations.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla has blamed the U.S. embargo for the country's repeated nationwide electricity outages.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment