[60858] Turmoil over Ukrainian takeover of Russian Telegram channels and reports on economic crises

The Russian intelligence agency's warning: Ukraine is trying to take over Telegram channels

The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) reports that since the end of April, Kyiv has been conducting an extensive campaign to "purchase Russian military and patriotic Telegram channels." According to the report, the goal is to replace the channels' content and disseminate "disinformation and discredit the political leadership and security forces of Russia." Official sources, including Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin (Readovka), claim that the Ukrainian security services are behind the move, using fake accounts to contact channel owners.

Conversely, the Telegram channel "Agentstvo", which presents a more critical and moderate stance, notes that these claims come against the backdrop of military failures and a decline in public trust in Russia. The channel "Dozhd" also reports on the statement using reserved language. Among Russian bloggers, mixed reactions were recorded; some, like the channel "Zhizn v DNR", express real concern about the phenomenon, while others in the community doubt the ability to carry out such purchases on a wide scale.

Crisis in the small and medium business sector

In parallel with the security tensions, the channel "Extrakt" reports concerning data in the business sector: in the first quarter of 2026, about 209,000 small and medium-sized businesses closed in Russia, an 11% increase compared to the same period last year. The analysis points to the "increase in the tax burden" and the high interest rate of the Central Bank as the central factors for the collapse of the businesses.

Tensions and reports from the front

The channel "ANNA NEWS" claims that Ukraine is in a "systemic crisis" and suffers from a severe shortage of manpower, while the channel "Radio Svoboda" emphasizes Russia's growing difficulties in recruiting fighters and the rise in the number of casualties. Simultaneously, reports in the channel "News Dash" point to seemingly successful attacks by Ukrainian forces against energy infrastructure inside Russian territory, which indicates the continuation of the technological and logistical escalation between the parties.