Authors

Elizaveta Chernenko¹; William H. Dutton²;  ¹ Oxford Internet Institute, UK;  ² Portulans Institute, UK

Discussion

Access to the social media site, Telegram, in Ukraine has become a focus of debate. This study examines Telegram’s role in Ukraine’s information ecosystem amid the Russian invasion and heightened scrutiny over its moderation policies and role in spreading harmful content. The analysis is based on a web-based survey of 2,014 people living in Ukraine, conducted in August 2024, supplemented by qualitative interviews with Ukrainian media experts.

The findings show that Telegram is one of the most popular and trusted information sources in Ukraine, with 86 percent of respondents having an account, nearly half (47%) viewing it as a trustworthy source, and 72 percent using it to verify war-related news. This high engagement, along with concerns over its influence, has led some in and outside Ukraine to call for platform restrictions, some already underway.
To examine Telegram's role, we applied multilevel logistic regression models to identify factors driving use and trust in the platform. Preliminary analysis suggests that Telegram users report reducing Russian content consumption in favor of Ukrainian sources and increasing their overall media consumption since the invasion. Most Ukrainians who trust Telegram rely on it for government announcements, local and international news, updates from political leaders, and war-related alerts. Our study indicates that Ukrainians view Telegram as a source of uncensored information, showing a strong correlation between platform use and rejecting censorship. Rather than limiting other media sources, Telegram users are also more inclined to use other online media.

These patterns suggest that Ukrainians’ reliance on Telegram stems from its practical utility. Its unique “channel” feature allows public or private broadcasts, enabling various actors—including government, mainstream media, community leaders, and independent bloggers—to connect with audiences instantly. Through curated subscriptions, users create a flexible, customized information feed. Thus, Telegram combines the immediacy of social media with the focused reach of newsletters, functioning as a comprehensive news aggregator.

In conclusion, our study shows that Telegram serves as a popular platform in Ukraine, allowing users to access information from sources they trust. This challenges the Western view of Telegram as merely a conduit for harmful content. We highlight its nuanced role as a trusted provider of diverse, uncensored information, drawing from traditional media, government sources, international outlets, and independent voices, including those of unverified affiliation. While concerns about Telegram’s risks are understandable, restricting access could hinder Ukrainians’ ability to access reliable information. Much of the apprehension surrounding Telegram may reflect a lack of trust by intellectuals and governments in their audiences. This research provides an empirical basis for ongoing debates over its