Der russische Abgeordnete Andrey Kartapolov, Vorsitzender des Duma-Verteidigungsausschusses, sagte, es sei schwer vorherzusagen, wie sich die Telegram-Beschränkungen von Roskomnadzor auf die „SMO“ auswirken werden, und reagierte damit auf Militärblogger, die anmerkten, dass Telegram angesichts der Starlink-Ausfälle für russische Truppen von entscheidender Bedeutung sei

**Translation:**

It is still difficult to predict how Roskomnadzor’s (RKN) restrictions on Telegram will affect the military operation in Ukraine, RTVI reported, citing Andrey Kartapolov, head of the State Duma Defense Committee. “It’s hard to say for now, we need to see,” he said.

Kartapolov’s comment came in response to criticism of RKN’s decision by military correspondents and military bloggers. They noted that Telegram is actively used by Russian servicemen in the SMO zone, where the situation has worsened following the restriction of Starlink satellite communications.

Viktor Sobolev, a member of the Duma Defense Committee, said in response to the criticism that “Roskomnadzor is right.”

“We should have launched our own internet last year, and there would have been no problems, instead of relying on Starlink. There was some delay, but this year, I think we will solve this problem,” the deputy said. He added that communication in the Soviet era “was at the highest level” and expressed the opinion that “the internet should be our own, not Elon Musk’s or anyone else’s.”

On February 10, RBC reported, citing sources, that Russian authorities had decided to start slowing down Telegram. According to the publication, the measures involve “partially restricting” the messenger.

Roskomnadzor stated that the agency “will continue to introduce consistent restrictions” on Telegram “to ensure compliance with Russian law and protect citizens.” RKN said that the messenger’s management “still does not comply with Russian law, does not protect personal data, and has no real measures against fraud or criminal and terrorist use of the service.”

**What military correspondents say**

Military correspondents and bloggers criticized RKN’s decision to restrict Telegram. The Telegram channel *Voendelo* called the slowdown “shooting themselves in the foot,” especially amid Starlink outages in the SMO zone.

“The media space and agenda in the messenger are practically handed over to Europeans and Ukraine. This is also a severe blow to the volunteer movement and support for fighters in the SMO,” the channel wrote.

The channel *Vault 8* noted that recent restrictions “have negatively affected” communications in the troops.

“In short: Starlinks are down, Telegram is being slowed. All this has already had the worst effect on communication in the troops.”

As a result of Starlink terminal shutdowns in the SMO zone, Russian troops lost Telegram connectivity, which had “worked normally” thanks to the satellites, wrote military volunteer Alexey Zhivov. He noted that after the restrictions on the messenger, “people on the front line were simply left without communication,” as servicemen continued using it for communication.

Zhivov also pointed out that Starlink is already operational in several CIS countries, including Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, with plans to launch in Uzbekistan in 2026.

“There is a feeling that we are trying to isolate ourselves from global information because we are not ready to compete in it with either images or meanings. You know how this ends. There have already been many attempts to immerse the Russian people in blissful ignorance, not giving them a firm basis for independent value choices and goals, selling them instead the ‘brilliant conclusions’ of the authorities. All of them ended in failure. We are heading straight toward our beloved mistakes,” he reflected.

“The front is, of course, in shock! Starlinks are dead, now they’re jamming Telegram too! How are we supposed to fight? With carrier pigeons?” wrote military blogger and *Donbass* charity founder Ivan Utenkov.

Sergey Kolyasnikov, author of the Telegram channel *ZERGULIO*, commenting on Telegram restrictions, wrote that “it would have been better to make a closed messenger for the military.” He called the domestic national messenger MAX “raw and non-functional.”

Telegram is essentially the only platform where Russians can broadcast their agenda to the world, writes the Telegram channel *Starshe Eddyi*.

“This all reminds me of Soviet leaders’ struggle with foreign radio stations. Using powerful suppression tools, they tried to crush the BBC and Voice of America, while citizens tuned in, hoping to hear popular foreign music and news… Apparently, someone at RKN really dislikes this, so they try to force everyone onto VPNs so that citizens read enemy sources while we cannot influence the opponent ourselves,” the channel’s author reasoned.

Military blogger Yegor Guzenko (*Thirteenth*) suggested that due to Telegram restrictions, “humanitarian aid may come to nothing.”

“Then we will probably have to use ‘carrier pigeons’ for military purposes,” he lamented.

* * *

Those who decided to slow down Telegram are “scoundrels” and “idiots” and should be sent to the SMO zone, the leader of *A Just Russia* and State Duma deputy Sergey Mironov told journalists.

“Those who are slowing down Telegram, go to the front, to the SMO! The guys shedding blood there only have Telegram to communicate with their families and loved ones! What are you doing, idiots? I call things by their names: idiots! People are raising money for the SMO, and the only way to communicate with family is through Telegram channels,” the parliamentarian said.

He noted that while the national messenger MAX is “excellent,” citizens should be allowed to choose which services they want to use.

“I want to say again: those who are doing this are scoundrels! Scoundrels! People are dying there, dying for Russia, for the Russian world. And what are you doing? Wake up!” the deputy said.