Telegram is undoubtedly a problem from the perspective of national security. This was stated by the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov in an interview to BBC Ukraine.
About Telegram:
BBC: You recently mentioned that Telegram is a problem for Ukraine.
Kyrylo Budanov: I can repeat it again for you. It is a huge problem.
BBC: What can be done about it?
Kyrylo Budanov: Either, as they say, organize everything - put things in order, at least legislatively force everyone to register so that it is clear who is behind each media resource, and Telegram has already definitely gained the status of media. There is no question of influence or pressure - the issue is not about that. If you want to express your position - and it may not be liked by someone, and that's normal in a democratic society - take responsibility. What are you afraid to say, who you are?
BBC: Are you talking about anonymous Telegram channels?
Kyrylo Budanov: They are all anonymous. Do you know any Telegram channel that directly said, "It's me"? There you have your answer.
BBC: Would closing them solve this problem? Blocking them?
Kyrylo Budanov: Temporarily, yes, but I still believe that they should be forced to register. It will not be pressure on the press. In a democratic society, I repeat, you cannot just press...
Why am I even telling you this? You are representatives of journalism. You would be very happy if someone came to you and said: from now on you write like this? Well, of course, that would be abnormal. But to be afraid to say who you are - that's also wrong. And to throw everything into the air on behalf of an anonymous person, sorry, from different parts of the world, for whatever they pay for - that's also abnormal.
BBC: Do you read Telegram yourself?
Kyrylo Budanov: I sometimes take a look. I have Telegram on one device, let's say, on the work one. And I take a look at it when certain events are taking place, mostly to see how the Russian society perceives certain events. That's the only thing I use Telegram for.
BBC: And you probably occasionally read news from Russian Telegram channels about your "killing"? How do you react to that?
Kyrylo Budanov: No, I was told yesterday that recently they spread that I was killed somewhere in the Kharkiv region. How can I react to that? My grandmother used to say, "When they constantly say that someone has died - then that person will live long." So, that's how it will be with me.
They "killed" me the day before yesterday, as they say, again. And I'm sitting in front of you now. I think we can discard the options that I'm a hologram.
BBC: Can intelligence officers have Telegram or other social networks at all?
Kyrylo Budanov: No, absolutely not.
BBC: Is it forbidden?
Kyrylo Budanov: Of course. As a leader - I simply have access to all world media and resources. So, I take a look to see the results of our operations. Or the resonant events that, in our opinion, will have or have some impact.
