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Telegram in the primary communication platform for the Russian forces in Ukraine. That may or may not be of interest to the French authorities, but the fact that it is also used by the Russian mercenaries taking control over former French colonies definitely is. A French citizen aiding Russian military and mercenaries in the French sphere of interest is asking for trouble.

This is pure conjecture, btw.

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FWIW I've been told it's sometimes also used by the Ukrainian diaspora to communicate with their families back in the war zone. Tough whatsapp appears to be more popular for that.

Its use is banned by Ukrainian military. I guess civilian use is still permitted.

It's banned because it leaks information (location, for instance) which is exactly the kind of thing you don't want leaking from your armed forces.

Indeed, Russia's ridiculous OPSEC has nothing to do with France enforcing its' laws. Even if this was the case, they're a few years late.

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