μ-Note: Max Causes Maximum Communication Chaos
Telegram, founded by Pavel Durov, seems to be top of mind for Kremlin officials.
Telegram has not paid its fines for failing to go to max for Russian authorities. A low-level court in Moscow fined the popular messaging applications another US500,000.
What happens if a Russian soldier uses Telegram to communicate? The British newspaper the Telegraph reported on March 20, 2026, that law breakers have their mobile phones taken and destroyed. Click here for the source document
The British newspaper reported that using Telegram’s system includes “a one way ticket to Russia’s notorious meat grinder assaults. Is this true? There are social media posts on Telegram reporting this, but that type of information is often difficult to verify.
One report from a person familiar with Russia’s tactics told me that until this crackdown, both Russian and Ukrainian forces, government personnel, and observers relied on Telegram. The Kremlin-approved alternative is Max, but making the transition introduces another set of adjustments into a war. With Russia’s military leaders implementing progressive pressure on Telegram usage, different workflows have to be set up, stabilized, and used. Making the change is easy to discuss in a meeting room in a government facility. Shifting one’s muscle and mental memory when evading a Ukrainian drone is slightly more difficult I believe.
Max at this time does not deliver EE2E or end to end encryption for messaging. Telegram does provide this as an option, but by default messages are encrypted on the sender’s device. The Telegram command and control server decrypts them. Once decrypted the message is re-encrypted and sent to the recipient. This semi-secure process opens the door to tomfoolery at the Telegram command and control node. Telegram offers “secret” messages, but these require separate steps to implement and the recipient’s Messenger app must be running for the true EE2E encryption to function. Paranoia, therefore, is the name of the game for a system developed by a Russian, maintained in part by Russian computer scientists, and operating on some Russian servers.
There are rumors that some Russian ISPs have deep packet inspection technology in place to examine Telegram traffic flowing on a Russian system. If these suggestions of compromise are true, deep packet inspection introduces analytic work that takes time and money to convert to a police or military action. Pavel Durov, already distracted by his impending trial in France for serious online crimes, is obviously not cooperating with Kremlin authorities for access to Telegram messages.
Russian authorities are taking the “just do it” approach and forcing a shift to Max. The management approach can work sometimes and other times it does not work particularly well. With Starlink generally unavailable to Russia’s troops, there have been hints that Meshtastic or Meshtastic-type services are being used to coordinate attacks, control drones, and just pass messages to soldiers. Mesh networks lack the scope of Telegram’s service. Also, Russia’s alternative to Elon Musk’s Starlink is now in test. This Rassvet service got a boost with the launch of additional satellites in March 2026. The system can be used for certain high-priority military attacks; however, more satellites, improved technology, and launches are needed before Rassvet nears Starlink’s capability, portability, and features.
The shift to Max, therefore, is official. The meetings in a Russian government building have decided on a deep clean of the Telegram app. In practical terms, virtual private networks, bootleg Starlink systems, and World War One style communications gear will be used by warfighters and some civilians involved in the special operation.
Russia’s push to the future with Max may be forcing a retreat to old-fashioned communications methods: Courier delivered paper messages, copper and fiber optic cables, and flares. Banning Telegram allows the Kremlin to demonstrate its abilities to the max.
Stephen E Arnold, March 25, 2026
