Published: February 21, 2026 5:55 am
Author: RT
Data posted in the messenger can be processed “in the shortest possible time,” the FSB has claimed
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has claimed that Ukrainian military units and intelligence agencies are able to rapidly obtain information shared via the Telegram messaging platform and use it for military purposes.
According to a statement released by the agency, its analysis indicates that data posted on Telegram can be accessed and processed by Ukrainian forces “in the shortest possible time,” allowing them to identify positions, movements, and other operational details.
The FSB said the findings are based on what it described as “reliable information” gathered during monitoring of the platform’s use in the conflict zone.
According to the FSB, such disclosures have contributed to threats to the lives and safety of Russian soldiers, underscoring the dangers of sharing sensitive information through open digital channels during active combat operations.
Kiev’s agents exploited loopholes to create fake identities and spread disinformation, while also using SIM-boxes – devices running dozens of SIM cards – for scams and other crimes, the FSB found earlier. In 2025 alone, more than 50,000 SIM cards registered to fake identities were seized.
According to Russian security services, since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, Kiev’s intelligence agencies have used both Telegram and WhatsApp to recruit operatives to carry out attacks inside Russia.
Since August 2025, Russian media watchdog Roskomnadzor partially blocked voice calls on both Telegram and WhatsApp. Text chats, file sharing, and other features remain available in Telegram; however, WhatsApp was fully blocked in Russia. The curtailed functions would be fully restored if the platforms comply with Russian laws, the regulator said.
