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Phil Barker/Future Publishing via Getty Images and Wojciech Grzedzinski/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
- Moscow has prohibited the use of Discord, which Russian troops relied upon for drone coordination.
- The ban was enacted by federal regulators who expressed concerns about potential criminal activities associated with the platform.
- Observers of the conflict argue that this decision may weaken Russia’s military capabilities.
On Tuesday, Russian state media announced that authorities had officially banned Discord, a popular messaging and voice communication service originating from the United States. While initially favored by gamers, it has increasingly been adopted for tactical communications in Ukraine.
The Roskomnadzor agency, responsible for internet regulation in Russia, informed TASS news agency that they blocked access to Discord due to fears it could be exploited for illegal activities such as drug trafficking and disseminating extremist content.
The regulator referenced an earlier demand made to Discord to eliminate 947 instances of “illegal material,” noting that some content remained accessible. Additionally, they highlighted a previous fine imposed on Discord amounting to $100,000 due to its failure to remove child exploitation images and adequately manage user-generated content.
Anton Gorelkin, deputy chair of the State Duma’s information policy committee, criticized Discord on Tuesday for disregarding Russian laws. He stated that the platform had reached an irreparable point regarding compliance with local regulations.
A number of lawmakers expressed their discontent over this ban on Tuesday. Vladislav Davankov, deputy chair of the State Duma remarked that many individuals in Russia—including students and online educators—frequently utilize this platform. He indicated plans to contest Roskomnadzor’s ruling.
This prohibition is expected to impact military operations at front lines in Ukraine where both Ukrainian and Russian forces have been observed using Discord for coordinating drone missions effectively.
Numerous videos circulating online depict uniformed personnel monitoring surveillance feeds from drones through this application; one particular video purportedly showcases activity within a command post located in Bakhmut.
Discord enables users to participate in private group voice calls while also allowing them to stream live video from their screens or cameras directly within these calls.
Ekaterina Mizulina leads Safe Internet League—a government-affiliated organization—and cautioned that ”Discord is extensively utilized during SVO,” referring specifically to Russia’s special military operation terminology. She noted there are dedicated closed conferences set up specifically for viewing footage captured by drones among other equipment types. Mizulina emphasized how superior image quality provided by Discord makes it invaluable during operations; she labeled its prohibition as misguided on her Telegram channel.
This stance marks a significant shift from her previous advocacy back in 2022 when she called for banning both Twitch and Discord over concerns related primarily around gaming addiction issues within Russia’s youth population.
Pundit Roman Alekhine characterized Roskomnadzor’s action as detrimental not only towards civilian usage but also potentially harmful towards operational effectiveness at frontline positions—raising questions about whether authorities genuinely aim toward victory.
Alekhine anticipated officials would cite risks concerning intelligence leaks stemming from non-military communication platforms yet suggested they should provide alternative services suitable enough so troops can maintain effective coordination without disruption.
A number of military bloggers reported disruptions already occurring among certain units’ drone operations following implementation measures against accessing closed rooms previously used via discord channels.
“Control points across numerous units experienced interruptions regarding broadcasts relayed through secured discord rooms,” lamented blogger Troika while asserting these setbacks reverted capabilities back “to levels seen during March 2022.”
