The blocking of Telegram in Russia provokes the degradation of small businesses, as the messenger is a key platform for marketing and communication. This demonstrates the Russian leadership's reliance on conservative groups and its desire for digital isolation of society.
Russian authorities effectively blocked the WhatsApp messenger on February 11, making it inaccessible without complex workarounds. The application has also been removed from Roskomnadzor's online catalog.
Russia's internet watchdog is slowing down Telegram's operations due to legal violations. Moscow is trying to force Russians to use the more tightly controlled domestic online service Max.
The username "danbao" was sold for over $2. 1 million, making it the highest price ever paid for a public name on Telegram. The buyer from China paid 1,583,948 TON for the nickname, which translates to "guarantor" or "intermediary."
StopOdrex activists, including families of deceased patients of the Odrex clinic, launched a Telegram channel for communication. This decision was made after the third blocking of the StopOdrex website.
France is working on a bill to ban social media for children under 15, following the example of Australia and Denmark. In Ukraine, restrictions are only discussed at the level of ideas.
France will ban civil servants from using American video conferencing platforms. This decision is part of efforts to transfer government activities to its own technological platform.
The Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine records new schemes for hacking Telegram accounts through private messages. The goal is to gain access to accounts for further fraud and the spread of fakes.
In Kyiv, law enforcement officers exposed a 40-year-old Israeli citizen who is suspected of selling drugs. The man decorated the New Year's tree with bags of drugs.
Failures have been recorded in the operation of the Telegram messenger. Users complain about problems with comments and receiving messages.
Seven working sub-groups have been established to prepare for elections, covering technical, security, and political issues. The work is organized along six directions and one separate sub-group at the request of the public sector.
Western sanctions have led to the freezing of approximately $500 million worth of Telegram bonds held in Russia. This demonstrates the messenger's financial vulnerability to the Russian market, despite the founder's attempts to distance himself from Russia.
Russia is aggressively forcing citizens to use the state messenger Max, which is becoming a tool of control. Schoolchildren and students face threats for refusing to install the application, and in the occupied territories, Max only works with Russian and Belarusian SIM cards, isolating Ukrainians.
Telegram users started reporting service outages around 11:00 AM, with a peak in reports reached at 11:24 AM. Complaints concern problems with the website, server connection, and the application.
Starting January 1, 2026, China will ban the dissemination of explicit content in private online messages, including sexting. Violators face fines of up to $700 and imprisonment, and group administrators are responsible for removing such content.
The Moscow clinic AltraVita offers women under 37 free artificial insemination with the sperm of Pavel Durov, who personally pays for the procedures. The billionaire has over 100 biological children in 12 countries and promises them an equal share of his $17 billion inheritance.
Russians have massively encountered problems using the WhatsApp messenger, with reports of a 70-80% slowdown in its operation by Roskomnadzor. In less than a full day on December 22, over 2,100 complaints about the app's performance were received from 20 regions of Russia.
Telegram 12. 2.2 has received a new Passkeys login feature, allowing authentication using Face ID or a fingerprint. This eliminates the need for SMS confirmations, storing the login key directly on the device.
A new state support program for veteran IDPs is being launched in Ukraine, allowing them to receive a housing voucher for UAH 2 million through "Diia". The funds can be used to purchase housing, invest in a new building, or arrange a mortgage; applications can be submitted starting December 1.
Russian Roskomnadzor may block WhatsApp if it fails to comply with local legal requirements. Roskomnadzor accused WhatsApp of failing to comply with Russian requirements for preventing and investigating crimes.
Google specialists have discovered the Sturnus Trojan, which affects Android devices, using legitimate accessibility features for full control. The virus tracks user actions, steals passwords, and reads encrypted chats in messengers.
The French investigator lifted the travel ban on Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, who was previously suspected of aiding crimes. The decision of November 10 also cancels the requirement for regular registration at a police station.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented state awards to cultural and art workers on the eve of their professional holiday. Among the awardees was Olena Kolyadenko, founder of the Freedom ballet and the Freedom Jazz collective, who received the Order of Princess Olga, III degree.
The head of Roskomnadzor, Andrey Lipov, proposed to abolish the requirement for citizens' consent to the processing of their personal data. This will allow the state to collect, store, and transfer Russians' personal information without their knowledge.
WhatsApp plans to allow group chats with users of other messengers, such as Signal or Telegram. This feature, called "Third-Party Groups", is being developed for Android and complies with the EU's Digital Market Acts (DMA).
Russian special services recruit users through pro-Russian Telegram channels to carry out minor acts of sabotage in European countries. This creates a network of low-cost agents of influence to pressure public safety in the EU.
Kirill Dmitriev, special representative of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, is suing The Washington Post over a quote attributed to him: "Putin outplayed everyone again. " The newspaper referred to his Telegram post, where he reposted similar words.
Russian troops launched an airstrike on Odesa region with three guided aerial bombs with extended range. Two bombs were shot down by air defense, one fell in an open area without consequences.
Fighters of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the 20th separate K-2 brigade stopped the assault of Russian occupiers in one of the key directions. The enemy suffered significant losses, including 432 personnel, 4 tanks, 8 armored vehicles, and 6 artillery systems.
Russian occupiers are installing "Russian world" kits in Luhansk region, registering addresses, phone numbers, and passport data of owners. Installers are forced to work under pressure, and people are forced to accept "gifts" that disable Ukrainian channels and record viewers in the occupiers' database.
