The National Coordination Center for Cybersecurity of Ukraine has decided to restrict the use of Telegram within government structures and critical infrastructure facilities.
On September 19, a meeting of the NCCCS took place, bringing together representatives from key government agencies and law enforcement bodies in Ukraine. Among the participants were heads of the State Special Communications Service, National Police, General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Security Service, Ministry of Defense, National Bank, Ministry of Digital Transformation, Foreign Ministry, intelligence agencies, and regulators in the field of electronic communications.
Oleksandr Litvinenko, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, emphasized the need for joint efforts to counter cyber threats. The main topic of discussion was the national security risks posed by the use of Telegram during the war with Russia.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, presented evidence that Russian special services had access to users' private messages on Telegram, including deleted ones, and their personal data. He stressed that the issue with Telegram pertains not to freedom of speech, but to national security.
Representatives from the Security Service and the General Staff of the Armed Forces reported the enemy's active use of Telegram for cyberattacks, phishing campaigns, user geolocation, and the adjustment of missile strikes.
The NCCCS has banned the installation and use of Telegram on official devices of government employees, military personnel, and security and defense sector staff, as well as enterprises involved in critical infrastructure. Exceptions will be made for individuals for whom the use of the messenger is part of their official duties.
Meeting attendees also discussed measures to ensure stable mobile communication and internet functionality under martial law. They supported the creation of an industry information exchange center for cyber threats based on the European ISAC model. Additionally, they made decisions to ensure the continuous operation of electronic communication networks during power outages.
The NCCCS has made a series of decisions to enhance cybersecurity in Ukraine. Among them is the initiation of a national initiative to strengthen the role of women in cybersecurity and the implementation of the automated platform CyberTracker to monitor the execution of Ukraine's Cybersecurity Strategy.
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