The founder of Telegram, Pavel Durov, has disclosed details of a poisoning attempt he survived in 2018, describing the incident as a near-death experience. In an interview with podcaster Lex Fridman, Durov recounted how he discovered a “strange package” left at his doorstep during the spring of that year. He later described experiencing severe bodily pain and a sudden loss of physical function after returning to his rented townhouse.

Durov stated that within moments of the incident, he felt an overwhelming sense of impending death. “That was the only instant in my life when I think I was dying,” he said. The 40-year-old entrepreneur reported waking up the next day on the floor, unable to stand, with burst blood vessels and a two-week period of immobility. He emphasized that he chose not to disclose the event publicly at the time to avoid causing alarm, citing business priorities as his primary focus.

The poisoning occurred during a critical phase for Telegram’s TON blockchain project, when multiple governments, including Russia’s, sought to ban the messaging app. Durov described the attack as an isolated incident, focusing on his personal ordeal rather than broader geopolitical tensions. He recalled losing his eyesight and hearing rapidly, experiencing acute pain before collapsing. “I thought, well, I had a good life,” he said, reflecting on the moment.

The interview was published Monday, with Durov offering no further details about the alleged perpetrator or circumstances surrounding the attack.