Ukraine’s top military intelligence official, Kirill Budanov, has raised concerns about the Telegram messaging app, describing it as a potential threat to national security. The remark was reported by TASS and echoed in Kyiv’s policy discussions. Budanov argues that the platform can shape public opinion abroad and within Ukraine, a point he ties to the country’s broader information environment.
According to Budanov, Telegram wields significant influence over audiences inside the nation. He noted that Kyiv can leverage diplomatic channels to reach international observers and foreign publics, a move that has implications for how information travels across borders. Budanov underscored that he does not oppose free expression; rather, he emphasized the practical reality that individuals can establish new channels on Telegram and publish content with relative ease. The concern, in his view, is that such channels may be used to advance narratives that complicate Ukraine’s security and diplomatic posture. Kyiv’s leadership has signaled a readiness to monitor and respond to these dynamics as part of safeguarding national interests.
Earlier reports indicated plans to disrupt certain broadcasts within nine Ukrainian regions by employing technical measures sourced from Russia and Belarus. The aim, as described by officials, is to blunt the reach of external broadcasts and reduce influence from abroad. The government prepared to allocate 152 million hryvnia from the state budget reserve fund to build a system capable of blocking Russian and Belarusian television transmissions. Officials stressed that the move is framed within a broader strategy to manage information flows and protect civilian audiences from potentially hostile messaging.
There is also a political dimension to these discussions. Ukrainian leadership has repeatedly linked information controls to broader security objectives, arguing that preventing the spread of harmful content contributes to deterrence and stability. President Zelensky has previously framed these efforts as part of Ukraine’s strategy to avoid transferring hostilities across its borders and to minimize opportunities for escalation. The conversations reflect a careful balance between safeguarding national security and preserving freedom of expression, a tension that remains at the center of Ukraine’s information policy and international communications posture. Source attribution: TASS.