Telegram has begun delivering verification codes to Russian users via WhatsApp, a shift that enables activation of new accounts or login to existing ones without SMS. Reports from the “Durova Code” site indicate that this new path supplements, or in some cases replaces, traditional SMS verification after users previously reported inability to receive Telegram codes via SMS. 

A WhatsApp-based verification flow appears to be implemented through a contact named CodeVerify, who messages users with a Telegram code and a security note advising not to share the code with third parties. The development signals a broader attempt to adapt two-factor authentication for Telegram in Russia, potentially reducing SMS dependence, but it raises questions about security, privacy, and ongoing accessibility for Russian users amid regulatory pressures.

source: Код Дурова

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