Ukraine has banned the installation of the popular messaging app Telegram by officials on state-issued devices.
The National Cyber Security Coordination Center called for the ban, describing the move as necessary for national security during the war with Russia.
This was announced on Friday by Ukraine's Security and Defense Council in a statement on Facebook.
During a meeting thursday, ukraine's Security Service and the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said Telegram is actively used by Russia for cyber attacks, phishing, spreading malware, setting user locations and calibrating missile attacks.
An exemption from the ban will be allowed for people who use the app in their official duties. Ukrainians are free to use the app on their personal devices.
The app is widely used in Ukraine not only for messaging but also for reading news, including updates on Russian air strikes.
It's also the main way Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, engage with the public and broadcast war developments. Zelenskyy will likely continue to use Telegram in his public communications as it is in its official capacity.