Telegram's $500 million Russian bond frozen due to Western sanctions

BlockBeats News, January 6th. According to the Financial Times, around $500 million in Russian bonds held by Telegram have been frozen due to Western sanctions.

Telegram has issued bonds multiple times in recent years (most recently $1.7 billion in May 2025) and has bought back most of the bonds due in 2026. However, the mentioned $500 million bond has been "frozen" due to sanctions. The company stated that it will make payment upon maturity, and the payment agent and custodian will decide whether the funds can flow to Russian bondholders.