The Kremlin spent years building a messenger to replace Telegram. Now it’s reportedly telling soldiers the substitute is too insecure to use at the front.

Russian troops fighting in Ukraine have been advised to stop using Max — the Kremlin-backed “national messenger” app designed to replace Telegram — because it is not secure enough, the independent outlet Mediazona reports. The guidance comes as federal authorities have been throttling Telegram since summer 2025, triggering a backlash from pro-war commentators who say the app remains soldiers’ most reliable means of frontline communication. The Federal Security Service (FSB) has warned separat...