Ukraine considers Telegram restrictions over terror recruitment

According to the LB.ua portal, Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said it was worth considering restrictions on the Telegram network, which he believes is being used to recruit Ukrainians to commit terrorist acts.

However, he emphasised that any possible shutdown of the application would not be solely a matter for the Ministry of Internal Affairs or the Security Service of Ukraine but would require a broader public debate.

‘It is not possible to completely ban something that is already banned. We must talk about restricting it and ensuring that law enforcement agencies can work to reduce terrorist crimes,’ Klymenko said.

According to the minister, around half of recruitment activities in Ukraine take place via Telegram. The issue has been revived following explosions in Lviv and Mykolaiv. A 23-year-old police officer was killed and more than two dozen people were injured in an explosion in the centre of Lviv on 22 February. Seven members of the patrol police in Mykolaiv were also injured.

Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Iryna Vereshchuk said that Russians were using Telegram to recruit and coordinate attacks. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the authorities were investigating the possibility of a terrorist attack in connection with the incidents.

(max)