The Telegram messenger, founded by Pavel Durov, has emerged as a critical source of information amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. This observation is highlighted by journalist Masha Borak in her article on The Verge.
According to Borak, Telegram “has gained enormous influence over one of the most discussed conflicts in the world.”
“Telegram is fantastic for so many reasons, and also because we got to see what’s happening at such a crucial time in history,” said Jordan Wheeldon, founder of open-source intelligence agency Prose Intelligence (OSINT).
Despite its “unique historical role,” Telegram faces challenges—while messaging users are shielded from surveillance, the platform has also become a tool for misinformation and manipulation, as noted in the article.
At times in Russia, Telegram has functioned as “the only news source subject to severe state censorship,” Borak asserts. For Ukrainians monitoring troop movements, the messenger has been a “lifeline,” and for the global audience, “a window into (an armed conflict) that destabilized the world.”
Pro-War Bloggers
Critical sources of information include Russian pro-war bloggers who publish via Telegram. One notable channel is Rybar, led by former Defense Ministry press secretary Mikhail Zvinchuk.
In an interview with The Verge, Zvinchuk underscored Telegram’s influence during events such as Yevgeny Prigozhin’s attempted armed rebellion.
“The Prigozhin rebellion showed that all information was disseminated exclusively via Telegram. Telegram has become the primary tool for information dissemination, trusted more than traditional media due to its lack of censorship,” he commented.
Zvinchuk emphasized that Rybar aggregates information from Russian and Ukrainian sources, effectively functioning as a private intelligence agency leveraging Telegram.
Through the Eyes of Participants
Operated by a team of just 30 people, Telegram enables users to witness the conflict in Ukraine firsthand, Borak writes. The platform boasts 700 million active users monthly.
Telegram serves as a surrogate for censored war correspondents, publishing real-time combat updates complemented by maps, videos, and photos sourced from social networks.
However, Telegram’s hands-off approach to content regulation has made it a haven for extremists, conspiracy theorists, and criminals, the article notes.
Telegram spokesperson Remy Vaughn emphasized the platform’s commitment to information neutrality and equal treatment of all users, regardless of political views, asserting that Telegram has never shared data with Russia’s FSB or any other authority.
We Don’t Know What Game They’re Playing
Numerous popular military channels involve current and former security officials, according to Eto Buziashvili of the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab).
“We cannot definitively ascertain their intentions and strategies,” cautioned the expert.
Rybar’s founder, Zvinchuk, acknowledged establishing contacts with organizations involved in defense information coverage.
“We share information, strategize, and collaborate to undermine the enemy,” he remarked.
Experts anticipate Telegram to be the first platform to break major developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, potentially including nuclear incidents.
“Telegram will likely be the initial platform to report such events promptly,” predicted Prose Intelligence’s Jordan Wheeldon.
