Ukraine Archives

AppWizard

June 26, 2025

Industry vet David Miller joins Coatsink

David Miller has been appointed as the head of business development at Coatsink after a five-year tenure at War Child UK, where he led gaming partnerships and raised funds for youth in conflict zones. His previous experience includes roles at Bandai Namco, Bossa Studios, ITV, and The Imaginarium Studios. Coatsink, founded in 2009, was acquired by Thunderful Group in 2020 for .9 million, excluding performance payouts, enhancing its position in the indie gaming sector.

AppWizard

June 25, 2025

Putin signs-off on state messaging app

Russian President Vladimir Putin has endorsed the creation of a state-backed messaging platform to reduce reliance on foreign services. The new app will integrate with government services and address security vulnerabilities in existing platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp. It will be pre-installed on all new smartphones sold in Russia and mandated for communication within public institutions. This initiative aims to enhance Russia's digital sovereignty amid the withdrawal of Western tech firms since the Ukraine conflict began in February 2022. There are concerns about user privacy and potential state surveillance, with critics suggesting the government may restrict access to foreign messaging services to promote the state-run alternative.

AppWizard

June 24, 2025

Russia Launches National Messenger App with Government Integration | Ukraine news

On June 24, Vladimir Putin established a "national messenger" in Russia through a decree, which was published on the official legal information portal. The service will be built on domestic software and aims to attract over 500,000 daily users. It is designed for messaging and voice calls in Russian and other languages spoken in the Russian Federation, and will support advertising in these languages. The platform will integrate with the Russian digital services portal “Gosuslugi,” allowing access to official documents. Features will include electronic document signing and serve as a communication hub for students and educators. The State Duma passed a bill advocating for the messenger on June 10, emphasizing the need for a multifunctional information exchange service. Anton Gorelkin stated that the introduction of the messenger would not block Telegram in Russia if it complies with legal requirements. Russia has imposed restrictions on social networks and messaging platforms, including limiting access to X (formerly Twitter) in 2021 and banning Facebook and Instagram in March 2022. In August 2024, Roskomnadzor blocked the Signal messenger for violations of Russian legislation.

AppWizard

June 24, 2025

Putin authorises creation of state messaging app to combat WhatsApp and Telegram

Russian President Vladimir Putin has endorsed the development of a state-sponsored messaging application aimed at integrating government services and reducing reliance on foreign platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram. This initiative is part of Russia's broader tech policy focused on digital sovereignty, especially in response to geopolitical tensions since February 2022. Russian lawmakers believe the new app will offer superior features compared to existing platforms, but there are concerns about privacy and government oversight. Mikhail Klimarev, director of the Internet Protection Society, has expressed worries that the government may intentionally slow down WhatsApp and Telegram to encourage users to switch to the new app.

AppWizard

June 13, 2025

I’m glad Sony PlayStation finally got rid of PC game region locks

Sony has begun to reverse its policy of region-locking PC games, allowing titles such as Helldivers 2, God of War Ragnarök, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 to be purchased in previously restricted regions. This change follows backlash against the region locks implemented over a year ago, which had led to negative reactions from players. While many restrictions have been lifted, seven countries—Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria, and Vietnam—remain blacklisted.

AppWizard

June 10, 2025

How Russian Spies Are Analyzing Data From China’s WeChat App

Moscow's skepticism towards foreign messaging applications has intensified, particularly regarding the Chinese app WeChat, which has weak encryption protocols. Russian counterintelligence is analyzing WeChat data to identify individuals in contact with Chinese operatives. A recent intelligence document reveals concerns about China's influence in Russia, particularly as Russia's isolation from the West grows due to geopolitical tensions. The F.S.B. is using an analytical tool called "Skopishche" to enhance surveillance, aggregating data from sources like WeChat, including account logins, contact lists, and message archives. This data is often collected from mobile devices seized from significant individuals. The shared focus on surveillance by Russian and Chinese authorities highlights their concerns about external influences and internal dissent.

AppWizard

June 7, 2025

Putin’s WeChat wager Moscow is betting on a super-app strategy to sideline foreign platforms and control digital communications

In late May, a significant amendment was introduced to a draft bill aimed at establishing a government-backed instant messaging platform, endorsed by President Vladimir Putin, which would have unique privileges compared to competitors. The proposed legislation includes features like document certification using electronic signatures and replacing physical identification with the platform's identification, which private enterprises would be required to accept. The platform is intended to function as an alternative to Russia's existing digital government services but will not replace them. The government will select an organization to manage the platform, which may be a private Russian company with over 500,000 users. VK, the company behind Russia's leading social network, is the frontrunner to develop the super-app called "Max," which offers various features and aims to integrate with external services. The Russian government may consider blocking competitors to Max, such as WhatsApp and Telegram, with the latter having a user base of 68 million daily users. President Putin has instructed his cabinet to promote the Russian messaging platform by migrating services from government agencies and financial institutions.

Tech Optimizer

May 31, 2025

Authorities Dismantled AVCheck, a Tool For Testing Malware Against Antivirus Detection

Law enforcement agencies from multiple nations dismantled a cybercriminal operation that provided malware testing services to evade antivirus detection. This effort led to the seizure of four domains and their servers, disrupting infrastructure that facilitated ransomware attacks globally. U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced the disruption of an online software crypting syndicate that helped cybercriminals keep their malware undetected. The seized domains offered counter-antivirus tools and crypting services, allowing criminals to obfuscate malware and gain unauthorized access to systems. Investigators conducted undercover purchases and analyzed services, revealing connections to ransomware groups targeting victims in the U.S. and internationally. The operation, part of Operation Endgame, involved collaboration among the U.S., Netherlands, France, Germany, Denmark, Ukraine, and Portugal, with the FBI Houston Field Office leading the U.S. investigation. The seizures occurred on May 27.

AppWizard

May 29, 2025

Elon Musk’s xAI partners with messaging app Telegram in $300 million Grok deal

Elon Musk has launched xAI, aiming to uncover fundamental truths of the universe. The startup has partnered with Telegram, agreeing to a 0 million investment for the Grok AI chatbot. Telegram will receive the initial payment and 50% of revenue from xAI subscriptions sold through its platform. Telegram's CEO, Pavel Durov, mentioned that users can expect advanced AI technology by summer, although Musk later stated that "no deal has been signed." Telegram has over one billion monthly users as of 2025 and is preparing to raise at least .5 billion through a bond issue. Durov is under investigation in France for allowing criminal activities on Telegram and is restricted from leaving the country. xAI has merged with X, valuing the AI company at billion and the social media platform at billion. Grok faced criticism for generating controversial responses, which xAI attributed to an unauthorized modification. The company is working to improve Grok's transparency and reliability.

AppWizard

May 13, 2025

Waltz’s Use of Messaging Platform Raises New Security Questions

Michael Waltz, the former national security adviser, mistakenly included a journalist in a sensitive chat on Signal during a cabinet meeting, raising concerns about communication practices among senior officials. A photograph captured him using a different messaging app that promotes archiving for record-keeping, which raises compliance questions with federal regulations. Visible contacts on his screen included Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. The use of encrypted messaging apps like Signal complicates the National Archives' role in preserving governmental records, highlighting the tension between secure communication and the need for transparency in government operations.