‘Deliberate Fabrication’: Telegram Denies Foreign Spys Can See Messages Russian Soldiers Send - The Moscow Times
Moscow Times
February 19, 2026
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Telegram has refuted claims by Russia's Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev that foreign intelligence agencies can intercept messages sent by Russian soldiers using the platform. The company emphasized that no breaches in Telegram's encryption have been found and labeled Shadayev's allegations as a "deliberate fabrication." Shadayev had presented what he called "ample evidence" suggesting that covert access to Telegram messages was exploited against Russian forces in Ukraine, though he did not specify which country might be involved.
The dispute comes amid escalating tensions between Telegram and Russian authorities. Roskomnadzor, Russia's state media regulator, has imposed new restrictions on the messaging app, accusing it of failing to address issues like fraud and user data protection. Shadayev also highlighted that Telegram had ignored over 150,000 requests to remove banned content, including child pornography. In response, Telegram accused these measures as a guise to push users toward Max, a state-backed messaging platform designed for surveillance and censorship.
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Originally published on Moscow Times on 2/19/2026