Russia's Telegram Crackdown: Critics Warn of Battlefield Chaos, Soldier Isolation

• Russia imposes new restrictions on Telegram, limiting voice and video call functions, citing failure to curb criminal and extremist use.
• Politicians, regional officials, and military-linked users criticize the move, warning it could disrupt battlefield coordination and isolate soldiers from families.
• Members of a Russian anti-drone unit appealed to the regulator, stating Telegram is essential for their operational work.
• Sergei Mironov, a pro-Kremlin party head, called those responsible "idiots" for undermining a key communication channel for troops.
• Critics suggest restrictions aim to push users to the state-backed MAX platform, raising surveillance concerns, while Telegram's founder vows to protect user privacy.