MOSCOW (Realist English). Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has confirmed that virtual private network (VPN) services are used in the operation of the Kremlin’s official Telegram channel.
Speaking to journalist Alexander Yunashev from Life, Peskov acknowledged that VPN tools are applied when managing the account. Asked directly whether such services were being used to bypass access restrictions on Telegram, he replied: “Someone somewhere,” while declining to elaborate further.
Peskov stressed that the Kremlin communicates across multiple platforms, including Russia’s domestic digital platform Max. However, he said Telegram remains an important channel due to its international reach.
“We have many compatriots abroad. Many foreigners are interested in the presidential agenda. It is in our interests to deliver that agenda to them,” he said.
The comments came a day after Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev claimed that foreign intelligence services have access to Telegram correspondence. In response, Telegram’s press office rejected those allegations in a statement to Reuters.
“The claim by Russian authorities that our encryption system has been compromised is a deliberate fabrication aimed at justifying a ban on Telegram and forcing citizens to use a state-controlled messaging service,” the company said.
The acknowledgment that VPN services are used within the Kremlin may raise questions given Russia’s existing restrictions on such technologies. Authorities have repeatedly emphasized the importance of developing domestic digital platforms and strengthening control over cross-border communications.
The episode highlights the tension between Moscow’s stated goal of digital sovereignty and the practical need to maintain communication channels with international audiences.
