Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has accused Telegram of facilitating terrorist and extremist activity, claiming the platform has been used to coordinate hundreds of attacks and tens of thousands of crimes since 2022.
The allegations come amid an ongoing state crackdown that has already seen Telegram throttled nationwide and its founder, Pavel Durov, placed under criminal investigation in Russia.
Reports published today by Russian media, which are attributed to materials from the FSB, portray Telegram as a central tool in what the FSB describes as a “hybrid war” against the country. The agency argues that the messaging app has evolved from a symbol of digital freedom into an instrument allegedly exploited by foreign intelligence services, extremist groups, and criminal networks.
Telegram, founded by Russian entrepreneur Pavel Durov in August 2013, is a communications platform that now has more than 1 billion active users worldwide, including over 100 million in Russia. It is widely used by media outlets, government agencies, businesses, and the military, in addition to private citizens.
According to the FSB, since 2022, more than 153,000 crimes in Russia have involved Telegram, including approximately 33,000 classified as extremist or terrorist in nature. Authorities claim they have prevented 475 terrorist attacks allegedly coordinated through the platform, including planned assaults on schools and government facilities. The agency also links Telegram to the March 2024 Crocus City Hall attack in Moscow, which killed 149 people, alleging that the perpetrators used the service to communicate with handlers.
Russian officials further state that over 150,000 removal requests have been sent to Telegram via official channels, covering content ranging from extremist propaganda and drug sales to child exploitation material and fraud schemes. They claim many of these requests were ignored. Financial penalties totaling 141 million rubles have been imposed on Telegram since 2021 for failing to remove prohibited content, of which roughly one-third has reportedly been paid.
Russian authorities also allege that while the company has responded to thousands of data requests from European Union member states, citing over 5,000 fulfilled inquiries between February 2024 and February 2025, it has not cooperated similarly with Russian investigators. They also reference clause 8.3 of Telegram’s privacy policy, which allows the company to disclose IP addresses and phone numbers in response to valid legal requests, arguing that such disclosures could expose Russian users to foreign intelligence targeting.
The accusations are surfacing as Russia intensifies technical restrictions on Telegram. As we reported earlier this month, Roskomnadzor began degrading Telegram traffic nationwide on February 10, 2026, with throttling reportedly reaching up to 55% of traffic. Authorities have framed the move as an anti-fraud and compliance measure, but it’s clear that it is designed to push users toward the state-backed MAX messenger developed by VK.
In August 2025, Russia also restricted voice calls on Telegram, claiming a subsequent 23% drop in digital crime in the following months. Pavel Durov has previously criticized the Russian government’s actions, comparing them to similar restrictions in Iran and accusing authorities of attempting to force citizens onto a surveillance-oriented domestic alternative. However, at the time of writing, Durov has not issued a new public statement in response to the latest FSB allegations.
Russian investigators confirmed that Durov is under investigation under Article 205.1 of the Criminal Code, which concerns the alleged facilitation of terrorist activity. Telegram’s CEO confirmed this earlier via a statement published on X and also on Telegram.
We have reached out to Telegram for comment on the FSB’s claims and the reported investigation, but have not received a response by publication time.
Article updated to add Durov’s public statement.
If you liked this article, be sure to follow us on X/Twitter and also LinkedIn for more exclusive content.
