• Trending: Hands-on with Google’s new Pixel 10a phone Tesla drops ‘Autopilot’ upsell in California Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026 is Feb. • 25 The best VPNs with free trials iPhone Fold: All the rumors so far A decision to ban Telegram on home soil may have backfired on the Kremlin. • Last week, Russia went on ablocking spree, banning a number of Western apps in an effort to push domestic users towards Max, an unencrypted state-owned app. • One of the restricted apps was WhatsApp (which was also blocked) rival Telegram, a move that drew rare internalcriticismfrom soldiers and pro-war bloggers, with the army being heavily reliant on the cloud-based messaging service for communications. • As reported byBloomberg, pro-Russian military channels are now complaining that the sudden Telegram blackout - coupled with Elon MuskcuttingRussia’s access to Starlink earlier this month - is now actively harming frontline operations. • As well as being the messaging app of choice for millions of Russian civilians, soldiers also use Telegram to liaise directly on the battlefield.
Article Summaries:
- Russia’s recent decision to block Telegram on its territory has reportedly hampered its military communications in Ukraine. The ban, part of a broader crackdown on Western apps-including WhatsApp-was intended to push users toward the state‑run, unencrypted Max app. Soldiers and pro‑war bloggers, however, have voiced concerns, citing Telegram’s role in battlefield coordination. Bloomberg reports that the blackout, coupled with SpaceX’s earlier restriction of Russian Starlink terminals, has disrupted drone operations and reduced offensive activity by an estimated 50 %. The Kremlin maintains the ban protects citizens, but its practical impact on frontline operations remains evident.
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