The President of Ukraine has a Telegram account with 710,000 subscribers, but the messaging app is not installed on Zelensky's personal phone, according to the report.
The head of the Ukrainian state does not use Telegram "as a security measure," the publication states.
Sources told journalists that as early as 2022, before the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukrainian intelligence warned Zelensky about the risks of Russian influence through Telegram.
The New York Times highlights that "many Telegram channels are managed from Russia," even though they are owned by Ukrainians. In particular, these channels spread disinformation about Zelensky himself – for instance, claiming that he allegedly fled the country at the beginning of the full-scale war.
The American publication found out that Ukrainian authorities discussed the introduction of new restrictions on Telegram during secret cybersecurity meetings in 2024.