Telegram dismisses Russian claim that foreign spies can read soldiers' messages

A woman poses for a photo while holding a smartphone next to a screen showing the crossed logo of Telegram messaging app against the backdrop of the Russian state flag, in this illustration taken February 12, 2026. REUTERS/Ramil Sitdikov/Illustration

MOSCOW, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Telegram ⁠says it has not found any breaches of ⁠its encryption, dismissing a Russian government allegation that ‌foreign intelligence services can see messages sent by Russian soldiers via the messaging app.

Russia's state communications regulator has introduced restrictions on Telegram, an ​important platform for public and private communications ⁠in the country, over ⁠what it says is a failure by the company to ⁠delete ‌extremist content.