1/ The Russian army is reportedly forcing its soldiers to abandon Telegram and move over to the government-authorised MAX app. A Russian warblogger explains why the transition will prove to be very difficult. ⬇️ bsky.app
Russian troops are being forced onto MAX a state-run messenger controlled by security services according to the Ukrainian channel Taras Shevchenko Reports.
2/ 'Unofficial Bezsonov' writes: "Some challenges of switching from Telegram to MAX for our military personnel. Telegram doesn't require a Russian number to be linked, making it difficult for adversaries to [de]anonymise users." 3/ "Max requires not only a Russian number but also real data (according to the messenger's rules), which enemy electronic warfare systems will immediately receive (although a Russian number alone is sufficient for the enemy to identify a user). 4/ "Since November 5, 2025, Max has been available to residents of nine CIS countries: Russia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. 5/ "This means that enemy agents in any of these countries will be able to easily use Max not only against identified Russian Armed Forces personnel but also against civilians. For example, by distributing phishing links to gain access to an account or smartphone. 6/ "Moldova, with its Russophobic government, deserves special attention. Its intelligence agencies closely cooperate with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). 7/ "Telegram has effective algorithms for detecting phishing links and other malware aimed at gaining access to an account or smartphone. Not only the link itself is blocked, but also the distributor's account. 8/ "And there are many other security mechanisms. Max doesn't have this and won't have it in the coming years. Max lacks useful tools that our military personnel have become accustomed to, such as Telegram bots and the like. 9/ "All our military personnel, to speed up decision-making and information exchange, especially during combat, transmit all data via Telegram, usually in closed group chats where all trusted participants are present. 10/ "This allows us to effectively respond to changes on the battlefield. This information isn't just text, but also photos and videos from drones, coordinates, and so on. 11/ "Is this prohibited by internal regulations? Of course! But otherwise, it's impossible to fight, much less win. But no one will be able to hold anyone accountable for this. 12/ "Who would violate Max, a system controlled by the messenger, where everything is officially monitored (according to the rules of the messenger) and data linked to a person can be used in court to provide counterintelligence with evidence? 13/ "Thanks to Telegram, we have the opportunity to fight the information war with dignity and win on the battlefield. Telegram has never failed in terms of security and reliability. 14/ "Now, we are destroying this tool with our own hands. Instead of strengthening it, we are handing it over to the enemy. We will lose not only this weapon but also time, which in war is equivalent to the lives of our soldiers. 15/ "Some officials say everything is under control and will be better this way. Are these, by any chance, the same people who said the same thing before the start of the Special Military Operation, that everything was under control, there were no analogues,… 16/ …and our electronic warfare systems would intercept everything? The shutdown of Starlinks has become a noticeable problem on the front lines, but what will happen after Telegram is blocked? Think again!" Source: t.me
t.me