In an interview with Espresso, Maksym Savanevsky, an expert in the field of Internet technologies and CEO of the PlusOne communication agency, expressed concern about the safety of Telegram users in Ukraine. He noted that the messenger has access to a significant amount of personal data, which creates potential threats.

The talks about the threat of Telegram should not have started now, they should have started several years ago. There is a lot of evidence that Telegram is a threat to Ukraine," Savanevsky explained.

He added that the messenger has access to information about Wi-Fi networks, phone books, and can identify people who do not even use Telegram.

Savanevsky also drew attention to the fact that Telegram's owners are not friendly to Ukraine, which is a key aspect.

When we talk in general about the history of Telegram, there are more than enough facts that indicate that this service has direct ties to russia, and there is a lot of evidence, he said.

Asked about the documentary evidence of Telegram's spying activities in favor of russia, Savanevsky said that there are many facts that confirm this, including the funding of the messenger by people close to the kremlin and the placement of key documents and servers in russia.

The expert recommends replacing Telegram with safer alternatives, such as Signal or WhatsApp. This recommendation comes on the back of an initiative by the People's Deputy from the "EU" Mykola Kniazhytskyi to regulate Telegram in Ukraine due to its russian origin and failure to block illegal content that could threaten national security.