Ukrainian government Telegram channels are back online after being targeted
Key Ukrainian Telegram channels operated by Ukraine's Digital Transformation Ministry have resumed operation after earlier being blocked, the Strategic Communications and Information Security Center reported.
Key Ukrainian Telegram channels operated by Ukraine's Digital Transformation Ministry have resumed operation after earlier being blocked, the Strategic Communications and Information Security Center reported.
The affected channels included Ukraine's Military Intelligence (HUR), Ukraine's Security Service (SBU), and the eVorog channel that allows Ukrainians to report sightings of Russian invaders or equipment.
"Official Ukrainian bots (channels - ed.), which are used to fight Russia, have resumed their work," the Center announced.
Russia could be developing pseudobots and clones of official bots to share disinformation or gather user data.
Officials recommend using a specialized tool for verifying chatbots: dovidka.info/botcheker.
Blocking official Ukrainian chatbots on Telegram
Telegram blocked the HUR channel, along with several other official channels that stood against Russia's aggression on Ukraine, without providing any explanation, late on April 28.
The EVorog channel from Ukraine's Statistics Ministry, the SBU official channel, the channel for Ukraine’s Southern Forces, and the anti-aircraft defense channel tracking Shahed drones were reported as blocked.
Several other unofficial bots also stopped working.
The blocking of Telegram channels is unrelated to the Ukrainian authorities' criticism of the messenger for spreading Russian propaganda narratives., said Ukrainian parliament's Freedom of Speech committee chair, Yaroslav Yurchyshyn.
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