Russian military personnel engaged in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine have received a directive to cease the use of Max, the Kremlin-endorsed messaging application intended to supplant Telegram. This recommendation, reported by the independent outlet Mediazona, stems from concerns regarding the app’s security capabilities. The advisory arrives amidst a backdrop of intensified restrictions on Telegram, initiated by federal authorities in the summer of 2025, which have sparked discontent among pro-war commentators who argue that Telegram remains the most dependable tool for frontline communication.
Concerns Over Communication Security
The Federal Security Service (FSB) has issued warnings indicating that Ukrainian forces possess the capability to intercept communications transmitted via Telegram. This has heightened anxieties regarding the safety of sensitive information shared among troops. In a recent update from the pro-war Telegram channel Fighterbomber, it was suggested that the military is considering a ban on the so-called “super-secure” app Max, with rumors circulating about an imminent release of a new application that would purportedly enhance secure communications.
Since the summer of 2025, access to Telegram has been increasingly restricted, beginning with the blocking of video calls by the national media regulator. On February 10, reports emerged from RBC indicating that federal authorities planned to escalate these restrictions, leading to user difficulties in accessing media files. Officials have cited the need for “sequential restrictions” to ensure compliance with Russian law and to safeguard public interests.
Backlash from Pro-War Advocates
The new limitations have ignited a wave of criticism from pro-war factions on Telegram. Sergey Mironov, the leader of the nominal opposition party Just Russia, has publicly defended Telegram as the sole reliable communication channel for Russian troops. Without naming specific individuals, Mironov expressed his frustration towards those responsible for the throttling of the app, labeling them with strong epithets.
Max, the so-called national messenger, was promoted as a platform designed for the populace, yet it has become predominantly populated by state-run channels. Despite the Kremlin’s assertions that troops do not rely on Telegram for communication, officials have struggled to comprehend how frontline communications could occur through this platform.
On February 18, Russian Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadaev stated that authorities would refrain from blocking Telegram at the front lines for the time being. However, the FSB’s warnings regarding the interception of Telegram data by Ukrainian forces have cast a shadow over the app’s viability. Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry maintains that troops utilize “standard communications equipment” alongside a “normal, domestically developed messenger.”
