The recent arrest of Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov in France on August 24th has sent shockwaves through pro-Kremlin Telegram channels, sparking fears of potential leaks of sensitive information related to the Ukraine conflict.
Since the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict, Telegram has been a critical communication tool for both Russian and Ukrainian military networks. Its appeal lies in operating beyond the reach of Western intelligence agencies, making it a favored platform for sharing information, and even coordinating on the battlefield.
However, in the last 24 hours, several Russian officials and lawmakers have advised soldiers to cease using Telegram. Pro-Kremlin military channels have also issued warnings, urging users to exercise caution on the app, with some even contemplating deleting their accounts altogether.
“Telegram has been a vital communication platform within the Russian military. From now on, everything could be at risk,” military blogger Alexei Sukonkin remarked. Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of Russia’s RT news outlet, has echoed these concerns, urging users to delete all sensitive messages.
Others are beginning to worry about the real-world consequences of Durov’s arrest. “The Russian military will become vulnerable without effective communication tools, especially if Durov hands over Telegram’s keys to the West—a scenario that seems inevitable,” wrote blogger Roman Alekhine.
Rybar, a pro-Russian Defense Ministry Telegram channel with over three million followers, expressed concern, stating, “French police have detained the manager of a crucial information tool for Russian forces. They are stripping the military of an essential resource.”
In response, some Russian soldiers have been photographed inscribing “For Durov” on artillery shells and rockets being used in Ukraine. A few channels have even started selling shirts emblazoned with the hashtag #FreeDurov.
On the evening of August 24th, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was arrested at Paris-Le Bourget Airport, just outside the French capital, after arriving from Azerbaijan on a private jet. His arrest, carried out under the framework of a preliminary investigation by French police, has yet to be accompanied by any formal charges from Paris.
The arrest has sparked a wave of support from Russian officials and lawmakers, who claim that Durov’s detention is a politically motivated move by the West.
In response, the Russian Embassy in France issued a statement on August 25th, demanding consular access to Durov and urging Paris to clarify the reasons behind his arrest. “So far, the French authorities have refused to cooperate on this matter,” the Russian Embassy noted.
Durov, 39, born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, holds citizenship in Russia, France, the UAE, and Saint Kitts and Nevis (a Caribbean nation). He founded Telegram in 2013, with the company now headquartered in Dubai.
With over 900 million users, Telegram is renowned for its end-to-end encryption, which ensures that only those communicating can read the messages. This commitment to privacy has made Telegram a preferred platform for users who prioritize security, but it has also attracted the attention of criminal organizations and extremist groups.
Before his arrest, Durov mentioned that various governments had attempted to pressure him, but he stood firm in his resolve that Telegram would remain a “neutral platform” rather than a “geopolitical tool.”
