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The Federal Security Service (FSB), Russia’s main domestic security and counterintelligence agency, said that Telegram founder Pavel Durov has been charged with aiding terrorism activity, TASS reported Wednesday.
The agency alleges that the messaging platform failed to remove channels, chats and bots used to organize terrorist attacks and sabotage in the country. Authorities have placed him on the international wanted list.
According to the FSB, Telegram continues to allow channels, chats and bots operated by Ukrainian intelligence services, terrorist organizations and extremist groups that are used to coordinate sabotage, terrorist attacks, mass killings and cyber fraud in Russia. Those activities have allegedly caused numerous casualties and billions of rubles in economic losses.
Russia says Ukrainian agents used Telegram chatbot to recruit minors
Russia’s Investigative Committee is handling a series of criminal investigations into sabotage and terrorist attacks allegedly committed by Russian citizens, claiming Ukrainian intelligence services used Telegram’s Daivinchik/Leo dating chatbot as a recruitment tool.
Authorities say 19 teenagers between the ages of 14 and 18 were detained in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, the Rostov and Saratov regions, and several other areas during a joint operation with the FSB and the Interior Ministry.
Investigators allege that the suspects were recruited through the chatbot and are facing terrorism, sabotage and other criminal charges.
The committee says minors recruited through the chatbot carry out arson attacks targeting vehicles, administrative buildings and gas stations.
Investigators are seeking to identify the Ukrainian intelligence officers allegedly behind the recruitment campaign and have already begun procedures with the relevant authorities to block the chatbot.
According to the investigation, recruiters first posed as young women before sending phishing links and requesting geolocation information for homes and public facilities. Authorities allege Ukrainian intelligence officers later impersonated Russian security officials, threatened the teenagers with prosecution and coerced them into committing crimes.
Russia keeps Telegram restrictions in place as Durov’s legal battle deepens
It’s not the first time Russia has moved against Durov. Authorities opened a terrorism-related criminal case against him in February 2026, before the latest FSB charges.
After the charges were announced, Telegram’s official X account published a photo of Durov without any accompanying statement.
— Telegram Messenger (@telegram) July 29, 2026
Telegram has faced partial restrictions in Russia since August 2025. The Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology, and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) said in a February statement that the measures would remain until the firm complies with Russian legal requirements.
According to Interfax, Russian authorities have imposed more than 100 million rubles in fines on Telegram since the start of the year. Most penalties are related to its failure to remove content banned under Russian law.
Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said negotiations over restoring Telegram’s operations in Russia are continuing, but added that Telegram’s representatives have shown little engagement in the process.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Vivian Nguyen. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
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