Russian authorities have opted not to restrict the use of the messaging platform Telegram for military personnel, according to Maksut Shadayev, the Minister of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media. This announcement was made during a meeting of the State Duma’s Information Policy Committee on February 18.
Shadayev stated, “The decision has been made not to limit the operation of Telegram in the Special Military Operation zone at this time.” However, he did not elaborate on how this decision would be implemented. He expressed hope that Russian military personnel might transition to alternative platforms in the future.
Since August 2025, Roskomnadzor, the Russian federal executive body responsible for overseeing communications, has been imposing restrictions on Telegram. Initially, the platform’s calling features were disabled. In early February, there was a noticeable increase in complaints regarding access issues, prompting reports that authorities were considering a complete ban on Telegram. Roskomnadzor confirmed that it would introduce “gradual restrictions” on the service.
Some pro-war bloggers and public figures criticized Roskomnadzor’s actions, highlighting that Telegram is widely utilized by Russian military forces in Ukraine for communication. Current military personnel have also raised concerns about the platform’s reliability.
Reports indicate that disruptions in Telegram’s service, along with outages of the Starlink satellite internet service, have already caused complications on the front lines, particularly in the Zaporizhzhia region, where Ukrainian forces have reportedly initiated a counteroffensive near Huliaipole.
The Kremlin has downplayed concerns regarding the potential impact of blocking Telegram on military coordination. Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for President Vladimir Putin, remarked, “I find it hard to imagine a situation where blocking Telegram would complicate the coordination of Russian military efforts. I do not think one can envision frontline communication being managed through Telegram or any messaging app.”
On February 17, a Telegram channel associated with security services, Baza, reported that Roskomnadzor plans to implement a “total ban” on Telegram starting April 1, similar to actions taken against Instagram and Facebook. In response, Roskomnadzor stated, “The agency has nothing to add to the previously published information on this matter.”
Russian authorities have decided not to block Telegram for military use, despite previous discussions of restrictions. The decision comes amid ongoing military operations and concerns about communication reliability on the front lines.