Russian authorities have declared Telegram founder Pavel Durov wanted, accusing him of allowing the messaging platform to be used by Ukrainian intelligence agencies and extremist groups.

According to the Federal Security Service (FSB), Telegram’s management failed to remove several channels, group chats and bots allegedly used by Ukrainian intelligence operatives, as well as terrorist and extremist organisations.

The FSB claimed that Ukrainian security agencies exploited a Telegram dating chatbot to lure and recruit Russian citizens for what it described as sabotage and terrorist activities.

The agency said 46 users of the chatbot, aged between 12 and 22, have been arrested across Russia over the past year on allegations including attacks on law enforcement officers, arson and other criminal offences.

Based on the allegations, the FSB announced that Durov has been placed on an international wanted list.

Shortly after the announcement, Telegram’s official account on X posted an image of Durov raising his middle finger, a gesture widely interpreted as a response to the accusations.

Durov, 41, has previously accused Russian authorities of fabricating reasons to restrict citizens’ access to Telegram.

Telegram remains one of the most widely used messaging platforms in Russia, with tens of millions of users. However, the Russian government has increasingly tightened restrictions on the app while promoting MAX, a state-backed “super app,” as an alternative. Telegram also has a large user base in Ukraine.

Durov left Russia in 2014 after refusing government demands to shut down opposition groups on the platform. Before launching Telegram, he founded VKontakte (VK), Russia’s largest social networking site, often described as the country’s equivalent of Facebook.