Merge pull request 'release: v1.18.0 — /support command in the Telegram bot' (#252) from development into master

Intercept /support in the main bot with a dedicated handler (registered
like /start), replying with a fixed support-desk info message: the
operators' working hours and what to include (a description and, when
possible, screenshots). The reply is Russian or English by the sender's
reported Telegram language, and the command is listed in the bot's
command menu (localized).

Being a dedicated handler, it intercepts /support before the support
relay, so the command line itself is not forwarded into an operator
topic while the user's following description still is.

Update the telegram README and FUNCTIONAL.md (+ _ru mirror).

.gitea/workflows/ci.yaml

@@ -353,6 +353,11 @@ jobs:
           # for the server-side confidential code exchange — a SEPARATE VK app from the Mini
           # App above. One VK ID "Web" app serves every contour -> unprefixed secret.
           GATEWAY_VK_ID_CLIENT_SECRET: ${{ secrets.GATEWAY_VK_ID_CLIENT_SECRET }}
+          # Client-version gate (ARCHITECTURE.md §2): one plain (unprefixed) variable serves every
+          # contour. In the test contour the stamped client version is a commit hash (unparseable ⇒
+          # fail-open), so setting these only enforces on real semver prod builds. Empty ⇒ dormant.
+          GATEWAY_MIN_CLIENT_VERSION: ${{ vars.GATEWAY_MIN_CLIENT_VERSION }}
+          GATEWAY_RECOMMENDED_CLIENT_VERSION: ${{ vars.GATEWAY_RECOMMENDED_CLIENT_VERSION }}
           # Planted honeytoken bearer: presenting it flags the caller (logs + a ban metric on
           # test where the IP ban is off; a 24h IP ban on prod). Per-contour secret; empty = trap off.
           GATEWAY_HONEYTOKEN: ${{ secrets.TEST_GATEWAY_HONEYTOKEN }}

.gitea/workflows/prod-deploy.yaml

@@ -112,6 +112,12 @@ jobs:
       # derived from PUBLIC_BASE_URL in deploy/write-prod-env.sh.
       VITE_VK_APP_ID: ${{ vars.VITE_VK_APP_ID }}
       GATEWAY_VK_ID_CLIENT_SECRET: ${{ secrets.GATEWAY_VK_ID_CLIENT_SECRET }}
+      # Client-version gate (ARCHITECTURE.md §2): plain (unprefixed) vars, shared across contours
+      # (empty ⇒ dormant). On prod the stamped client version is a real semver, so the gate enforces
+      # here — set GATEWAY_MIN_CLIENT_VERSION to the release in the same rollout that ships a breaking
+      # wire change; bump GATEWAY_RECOMMENDED_CLIENT_VERSION (≥ min) to nudge upgrades softly.
+      GATEWAY_MIN_CLIENT_VERSION: ${{ vars.GATEWAY_MIN_CLIENT_VERSION }}
+      GATEWAY_RECOMMENDED_CLIENT_VERSION: ${{ vars.GATEWAY_RECOMMENDED_CLIENT_VERSION }}
       # Planted honeytoken bearer: presenting it earns a 24h IP ban + a high-severity alarm.
       # Per-contour secret; empty = trap off. Rendered by deploy/write-prod-env.sh.
       GATEWAY_HONEYTOKEN: ${{ secrets.PROD_GATEWAY_HONEYTOKEN }}

deploy/.env.example

@@ -115,6 +115,13 @@ TELEGRAM_MINIAPP_URL=                  # required; deploy derives it as PUBLIC_B
 TELEGRAM_TEST_ENV=false
 TELEGRAM_API_BASE_URL=
 
+# --- Client-version gate (ARCHITECTURE.md §2) -------------------------------
+# The hard minimum + the soft recommended client build. Empty ⇒ dormant. Plain (unprefixed) Gitea
+# variables, shared across contours; in the test contour the stamped client version is a commit hash
+# (unparseable ⇒ fail-open), so these only enforce on real semver prod builds. Recommended must be ≥ min.
+GATEWAY_MIN_CLIENT_VERSION=
+GATEWAY_RECOMMENDED_CLIENT_VERSION=
+
 # --- VK Mini App ------------------------------------------------------------
 # The VK app's "protected key" (client_secret): the gateway verifies the Mini App
 # launch-parameter signature in-process under it (a pure offline HMAC, no VK API call).

deploy/docker-compose.yml

@@ -222,6 +222,12 @@ services:
       GATEWAY_HTTP_ADDR: ":8081"
       GATEWAY_BACKEND_HTTP_URL: http://backend:8080
       GATEWAY_BACKEND_GRPC_ADDR: backend:9090
+      # Client-version gate (ARCHITECTURE.md §2): the hard minimum + the soft recommended client build.
+      # Empty ⇒ dormant. Plain (unprefixed) — the same value serves every contour; in the test contour
+      # the stamped client version is a commit hash (unparseable ⇒ fail-open), so the gate only bites
+      # real semver builds in prod. Validated at gateway start (recommended must be ≥ min).
+      GATEWAY_MIN_CLIENT_VERSION: ${GATEWAY_MIN_CLIENT_VERSION:-}
+      GATEWAY_RECOMMENDED_CLIENT_VERSION: ${GATEWAY_RECOMMENDED_CLIENT_VERSION:-}
       # Telegram auth validates against the home validator (plaintext, internal).
       GATEWAY_VALIDATOR_ADDR: validator:9091
       # VK Mini App auth verifies the launch-parameter signature in-process under the VK

deploy/write-prod-env.sh

@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ export CADDY_SITE_ADDRESS='$CADDY_SITE_ADDRESS'
 export LOG_LEVEL='${LOG_LEVEL:-info}'
 export DICT_VERSION='$DICT_VERSION'
 export APP_VERSION='$APP_VERSION'
+export GATEWAY_MIN_CLIENT_VERSION='$GATEWAY_MIN_CLIENT_VERSION'
+export GATEWAY_RECOMMENDED_CLIENT_VERSION='$GATEWAY_RECOMMENDED_CLIENT_VERSION'
 export TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN='$TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN'
 export TELEGRAM_MINIAPP_URL='$TELEGRAM_MINIAPP_URL'
 export GATEWAY_VK_APP_SECRET='$GATEWAY_VK_APP_SECRET'

docs/ARCHITECTURE.md

@@ -116,8 +116,10 @@ dropped). Horizontal scaling is explicit future work.
   one whose response was lost — its button is disabled while offline and re-issued on reconnect). A
   reachability watcher (a lightweight `profile.get` probe; a session-less native guest reconciles a
   server guest instead — that reconcile IS the probe) drives recovery, and the live `Subscribe` stream's
-  drop/recovery feeds the same machine. **Telegram/VK are exempt** — always online, never fed an offline
+  drop/recovery feeds the same machine. **Telegram/VK are exempt** — always online: they are never fed an
-  signal, so those channels never enter an offline state or show a local lobby.
+  offline signal, and `offlineMode.active` is additionally hard-gated on `offlineCapable()` (false in
+  those mini-apps), so nothing — not even a version lock — puts them in offline mode: no blue chrome, no
+  local lobby, no transport kill switch and no device-local create paths.
   **Edge hardening:** every request body on the public listener is capped at
   `GATEWAY_MAX_BODY_BYTES` (default 1 MiB — far above any legitimate payload), both at the HTTP
   layer (`http.MaxBytesReader`) and as the Connect per-message read limit, so an oversized
@@ -1393,9 +1395,11 @@ for install on Android) and powers **offline play**. Offline is **implicit** —
 (the old deliberate Settings switch and its cold-start dialog are gone). The **unified lobby** merges the
 device-local games (active — reconstructed by replaying the IndexedDB move journal) with the last-cached
 **server games shown greyed** (un-openable, a tap toasts *offline*); the Stats tab is disabled and
-invitations are hidden while offline. New Game's *with friends* carries an **online/offline segmented
+invitations are hidden while offline. On offline-capable channels (native / plain web) New Game's *with
-control** — online = a friend invite, offline = **local pass-and-play (hotseat)** — with the online
+friends* carries an **online/offline segmented control** — online = a friend invite, offline = **local
-segment disabled and offline forced when there is no network; a `vs_ai` or hotseat create is guarded when
+pass-and-play (hotseat)** — with the online segment disabled and offline forced when there is no network;
+the online-only Telegram/VK mini-apps skip the segment and show the remote invite alone. A `vs_ai` or
+hotseat create is guarded when
 the chosen variant's dictionary is not available offline. A device-local `vs_ai` game is created through
 the in-browser engine and driven by the same game screen, the robot replying locally.
 A hotseat game is a device-local **2-4 human** game built through the same engine (`hotseat` +

docs/FUNCTIONAL.md

@@ -277,7 +277,9 @@ add-friend are off. AI games are **practice** — they never count toward a play
 statistics.
 
 ### Offline mode
-The app plays **offline automatically** — there is **no on/off switch**. When it cannot reach the
+The **web and native apps** play **offline automatically** — there is **no on/off switch**; the
+online-only **Telegram and VK mini-apps** never go offline (everything below applies to the web and
+native apps only). When it cannot reach the
 server the header turns blue with an *Offline* chip and play is confined to games on the device; a
 momentary blip is ridden out as a quiet *"Connecting…"* (it never drops you offline), and when the
 connection returns the app goes back online on its own with a brief *back online* toast. Offline, the
@@ -295,6 +297,7 @@ a short note.
 
 New Game's **with friends** offers a choice — **invite a friend** to play online, or a **local
 pass-and-play** game for 2-4 people sharing one device; with no network only pass-and-play is available.
+(In the online-only Telegram/VK mini-apps *with friends* is the friend invite alone — no pass-and-play.)
 In pass-and-play you first set a **host (leader) password** — a 4-digit PIN entered on a lock-screen-style
 keypad; until it is set the player rows stay locked. The app then asks whether you are playing too —
 if so you take the first seat with your profile name. You name each player (2 to 4; add or remove
@@ -427,9 +430,11 @@ unanswered reply. Guests cannot send feedback (the entry is hidden). A player th
 barred from feedback (a role, not a full account block) sees the send control disabled.
 
 ### Telegram support chat
-A user can also reach the operators straight from the Telegram bot: anything they send the bot
+A user can also reach the operators straight from the Telegram bot. The `/support` command replies
-other than `/start` — text, a photo, a voice message, a file — is forwarded into the operators'
+with the support desk's working hours and what to include (a description and, when possible,
-private support group, grouped into a per-user thread. The user sees no automatic reply; an
+screenshots). Anything else they send the bot other than `/start` — text, a photo, a voice message,
+a file — is forwarded into the operators' private support group, grouped into a per-user thread. The
+user sees no automatic reply to a forwarded message; an
 operator answers from that thread and the bot delivers the answer back as an ordinary bot message,
 so to the user it is a quiet one-to-one conversation. Operators can block a user (the bot then
 silently ignores their messages) or clear a thread's messages. This is independent of the in-app

docs/FUNCTIONAL_ru.md

@@ -283,7 +283,9 @@ e-mail) либо ввод фразы. Активные игры форфейтя
 редкими ходами вопреки плану, затухающими к эндшпилю), а чат, nudge и «добавить в друзья» выключены. Партии с ИИ — это **тренировка**: они не идут в статистику игрока.
 
 ### Офлайн-режим
-Приложение играет **офлайн автоматически** — никакого переключателя нет. Когда оно не может достучаться
+**Веб- и нативное приложения** играют **офлайн автоматически** — никакого переключателя нет; онлайн-только
+**мини-приложения Telegram и VK** никогда не уходят в офлайн (всё ниже относится только к веб- и нативному
+приложениям). Когда оно не может достучаться
 до сервера, шапка синеет с меткой *Офлайн*, а игра ограничивается партиями на устройстве; кратковременный
 сбой пережидается как тихое *«Подключение…»* (в офлайн не роняет), а при возврате связи приложение само
 возвращается онлайн с коротким тостом *соединение восстановлено*. В офлайне приложение не обращается к
@@ -299,8 +301,9 @@ e-mail) либо ввод фразы. Активные игры форфейтя
 варианта недоступен офлайн, создание такой игры отключается с короткой заметкой.
 
 «С друзьями» в Новой игре предлагает выбор — **пригласить друга** для игры онлайн или **локальную игру
-по очереди (hotseat)** на 2–4 человек за одним устройством; без сети доступна только игра по очереди. В
+по очереди (hotseat)** на 2–4 человек за одним устройством; без сети доступна только игра по очереди.
-игре по очереди сначала задаётся **пароль ведущего** — 4-значный PIN на клавиатуре в стиле
+(В онлайн-только мини-приложениях Telegram/VK «с друзьями» — это только приглашение друга, без игры по очереди.)
+В игре по очереди сначала задаётся **пароль ведущего** — 4-значный PIN на клавиатуре в стиле
 экрана блокировки; пока он не задан, строки игроков заблокированы. Затем приложение спрашивает,
 играете ли вы сами — если да, вы занимаете первое место под именем из профиля. Вы называете каждого
 игрока (от 2 до 4; строки можно добавлять и удалять, удаление спрашивает пароль ведущего) и можете
@@ -438,9 +441,11 @@ Telegram. На сенсорном устройстве в настройках
 обратную связь (роль, а не полная блокировка аккаунта), видит кнопку отправки недоступной.
 
 ### Чат поддержки в Telegram
-С операторами можно поговорить и прямо из Telegram-бота: всё, что пользователь присылает боту,
+С операторами можно поговорить и прямо из Telegram-бота. Команда `/support` отвечает графиком работы
-кроме `/start` — текст, фото, голосовое, файл, — пересылается в закрытую группу поддержки операторов
+поддержки и напоминанием, что приложить (подробное описание и, по возможности, скриншоты). Всё
-и собирается в отдельную ветку на пользователя. Пользователь не получает автоответа; оператор
+остальное, что пользователь присылает боту, кроме `/start` — текст, фото, голосовое, файл, —
+пересылается в закрытую группу поддержки операторов и собирается в отдельную ветку на пользователя.
+Пользователь не получает автоответа на пересланное сообщение; оператор
 отвечает из этой ветки, и бот доставляет ответ обратно обычным сообщением — для пользователя это
 тихий диалог один на один. Операторы могут заблокировать пользователя (тогда бот молча игнорирует
 его сообщения) или очистить сообщения ветки. Это независимо от встроенной «Обратной связи» выше —

gateway/Dockerfile

@@ -42,10 +42,15 @@ ENV VITE_TELEGRAM_BOT_ID=$VITE_TELEGRAM_BOT_ID \
     VITE_APP_VERSION=$VITE_APP_VERSION \
     VITE_ADS_STUB=$VITE_ADS_STUB
 
-# Install with the lockfile first (the workspace file carries pnpm's build-script
+# Install with the lockfile first, then build. Committed src/gen/ means no codegen here.
-# approval for esbuild), then build. Committed src/gen/ means no codegen here.
+# --ignore-scripts: the Vite build needs no dependency build script — esbuild's platform binary
+# ships as an optional dependency (only its CLI-shim postinstall is skipped, which Vite does not use),
+# and core-js-bundle's prebuilt file is read directly. It notably skips sharp's native build (a
+# `pnpm android:assets` tool via @capacitor/assets, unused here), which would otherwise fail on this
+# Alpine/musl stage with no prebuilt binary and no compiler. The workspace allowBuilds stay for local
+# installs (where android:assets does need sharp built).
 COPY ui/package.json ui/pnpm-lock.yaml ui/pnpm-workspace.yaml ./
-RUN pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
+RUN pnpm install --frozen-lockfile --ignore-scripts
 COPY ui ./
 RUN pnpm build
 

platform/telegram/README.md

@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@ it. See [`docs/ARCHITECTURE.md`](../../docs/ARCHITECTURE.md) §1/§3/§10/§12/
   validation gRPC API the gateway calls during Telegram auth, on the trusted internal
   network with no VPN. Because it needs no Telegram reachability, **game login stays up
   even when the bot or the bot-link is down**.
-- **`cmd/bot`** (remote) — runs the Bot API long-poll (Mini App launch + `/start`
+- **`cmd/bot`** (remote) — runs the Bot API long-poll (Mini App launch, `/start`
-  deep-links) and `sendMessage`, the only component reaching the Telegram Bot API. It
+  deep-links, the `/support` info reply) and `sendMessage`, the only component reaching
+  the Telegram Bot API. It
   holds **no inbound port**: it dials the gateway over a reverse **mTLS bot-link** and
   executes the send commands the gateway pushes, so its egress can run on a host with
   native Telegram access (a VPN sidecar in the test contour, a separate host in prod).
@@ -49,6 +50,13 @@ Telegram identity to an account from a browser. Both map a rejection to gRPC
   chat" — rather than a dangling "@"). This is otherwise **self-contained**
   — the bot never calls back into the game, so `/start` onboarding works even when the game
   is down.
+- **Support command.** `/support` replies with a fixed support-desk info message — the
+  operators' working hours and what to include (a description and, when possible,
+  screenshots). Like `/start` it answers only in a private chat and is **Russian or
+  English** by the sender's reported language, and it is listed in the bot's command menu
+  (localized, Russian/English). It is a dedicated command handler, so it intercepts
+  `/support` before the support relay below — the command line itself is not forwarded to
+  operators, while the user's following description still is.
 - **Moderated-chat gating.** When `TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID` names a channel's linked discussion
   group, the bot gates who may write there. The group **allows sending by default** (a
   human setting) and the bot only **restricts** — Telegram intersects the chat default with
@@ -76,7 +84,8 @@ Telegram identity to an account from a browser. Both map a rejection to gRPC
   message. State (user→topic map, block list, relayed ids) is a JSON file under
   `TELEGRAM_SUPPORT_STATE_DIR` on a persistent volume — the bot host has no database. The bot must
   be an **administrator** in the group with the **manage-topics** and **delete-messages** rights.
-  The relay is bot-local (no backend, no bot-link) and the user gets no automatic reply.
+  The relay is bot-local (no backend, no bot-link) and a forwarded message gets no automatic
+  reply (the `/support` command above aside).
 - **Promo bot (optional).** When `TELEGRAM_PROMO_BOT_TOKEN` is set, the container also
   runs a **second, standalone** bot whose only job is to answer `/start` with a localized
   message and a button that opens the **main** bot's Mini App. The button is a **URL** to

platform/telegram/internal/bot/bot.go

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // Package bot wraps the Telegram Bot API client (github.com/go-telegram/bot): it
 // runs the long-poll update loop — replying to /start (with an optional deep-link
-// payload) and any other message with a Mini App launch button — and sends the
+// payload), to /support with the support-desk info message, and to any other message
+// with a Mini App launch button — and sends the
 // notification and admin messages the connector requests. The bot token lives only
 // in this process.
 package bot
@@ -136,6 +137,7 @@ func New(cfg Config, log *zap.Logger) (*Bot, error) {
 	opts := []tgbot.Option{
 		tgbot.WithDefaultHandler(t.handleUpdate),
 		tgbot.WithMessageTextHandler("/start", tgbot.MatchTypePrefix, t.handleStart),
+		tgbot.WithMessageTextHandler("/support", tgbot.MatchTypePrefix, t.handleSupport),
 	}
 	if t.supportEnabled() {
 		t.supportLocks = newKeyedMutex()
@@ -186,11 +188,26 @@ func New(cfg Config, log *zap.Logger) (*Bot, error) {
 // Run sets the bot commands and the Mini App menu button, then blocks on the
 // long-poll update loop until ctx is cancelled.
 func (t *Bot) Run(ctx context.Context) {
+	// Command menu: the default (fallback) list is English; a Russian-scoped list
+	// localises the labels for ru clients. A language scope replaces the whole list, so
+	// it repeats /start with its own Russian label.
 	if _, err := t.api.SetMyCommands(ctx, &tgbot.SetMyCommandsParams{
-		Commands: []models.BotCommand{{Command: "start", Description: "Open Scrabble"}},
+		Commands: []models.BotCommand{
+			{Command: "start", Description: "Play Scrabble"},
+			{Command: "support", Description: "Contact the administration"},
+		},
 	}); err != nil {
 		t.log.Warn("set commands failed", zap.Error(err))
 	}
+	if _, err := t.api.SetMyCommands(ctx, &tgbot.SetMyCommandsParams{
+		LanguageCode: "ru",
+		Commands: []models.BotCommand{
+			{Command: "start", Description: "Играть в «Эрудита»"},
+			{Command: "support", Description: "Связаться с администрацией"},
+		},
+	}); err != nil {
+		t.log.Warn("set ru commands failed", zap.Error(err))
+	}
 	if _, err := t.api.SetChatMenuButton(ctx, &tgbot.SetChatMenuButtonParams{
 		MenuButton: models.MenuButtonWebApp{
 			Type:   models.MenuButtonTypeWebApp,

platform/telegram/internal/bot/supportreply.go

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+package bot
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"strings"
+
+	tgbot "github.com/go-telegram/bot"
+	"github.com/go-telegram/bot/models"
+	"go.uber.org/zap"
+)
+
+// The /support command replies with a fixed support-desk info message — the operators'
+// working hours and what to include (a description and, when possible, screenshots). It
+// is a dedicated command handler (registered like /start), so it intercepts "/support"
+// before the support relay: the command line itself is not forwarded into an operator
+// topic, while the user's following description still is.
+
+// handleSupport replies to /support with the localized support-desk info message. Like
+// handleStart it answers only in a private chat — in the moderated group the bot never
+// chats — and it sends a plain text message with no launch button.
+func (t *Bot) handleSupport(ctx context.Context, api *tgbot.Bot, update *models.Update) {
+	if update.Message == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	if update.Message.Chat.Type != models.ChatTypePrivate {
+		return
+	}
+	// The sender's Telegram language rides on the message itself (Message.from.language_code);
+	// fall back to English when it is absent, matching startText.
+	lang := ""
+	if update.Message.From != nil {
+		lang = update.Message.From.LanguageCode
+	}
+	if _, err := api.SendMessage(ctx, &tgbot.SendMessageParams{
+		ChatID: update.Message.Chat.ID,
+		Text:   supportText(lang),
+	}); err != nil {
+		t.log.Warn("reply to support failed", zap.Error(err))
+	}
+}
+
+// supportText returns the localized /support reply. Russian is used when lang (the IETF
+// language tag the Telegram client reports on the message's sender) starts with "ru",
+// English otherwise and when it is absent — mirroring startText's language choice.
+func supportText(lang string) string {
+	if strings.HasPrefix(strings.ToLower(lang), "ru") {
+		return ruSupport
+	}
+	return enSupport
+}
+
+// ruSupport and enSupport are the Russian and English /support replies; the English one
+// is the fallback for any non-Russian or missing sender language.
+const (
+	ruSupport = "Поддержка «Эрудита» на связи с 08:00 до 18:00 (по времени UTC). " +
+		"Если Вы столкнулись с проблемой, подробно опишите её и добавьте, по возможности, скриншоты. " +
+		"Также будем рады выслушать Ваши пожелания и предложения по функционалу игры. " +
+		"Ответим в самое ближайшее время."
+	enSupport = "“Erudite” support is available from 08:00 to 18:00 (UTC). " +
+		"If you have run into a problem, please describe it in detail and attach screenshots if you can. " +
+		"We would also be glad to hear your wishes and suggestions about the game's features. " +
+		"We will reply as soon as possible."
+)

platform/telegram/internal/bot/supportreply_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+package bot
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/go-telegram/bot/models"
+)
+
+func TestHandleSupportRepliesPrivateOnly(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("english by default", func(t *testing.T) {
+		api := &fakeBotAPI{}
+		b := newTestBot(t, api)
+		b.handleSupport(context.Background(), b.api, &models.Update{Message: &models.Message{
+			Chat: models.Chat{ID: 42, Type: models.ChatTypePrivate}, Text: "/support",
+		}})
+		if api.chatID != "42" {
+			t.Errorf("chat_id = %q, want 42", api.chatID)
+		}
+		// No reported language -> English support reply.
+		if !strings.Contains(api.text, "support is available") {
+			t.Errorf("text = %q, want the English support reply", api.text)
+		}
+		// A plain info message carries no launch button.
+		if api.replyMarkup != "" {
+			t.Errorf("reply_markup = %q, want none", api.replyMarkup)
+		}
+	})
+	t.Run("russian for a ru sender", func(t *testing.T) {
+		api := &fakeBotAPI{}
+		b := newTestBot(t, api)
+		b.handleSupport(context.Background(), b.api, &models.Update{Message: &models.Message{
+			Chat: models.Chat{ID: 42, Type: models.ChatTypePrivate}, Text: "/support",
+			From: &models.User{ID: 7, LanguageCode: "ru"},
+		}})
+		if !strings.Contains(api.text, "Поддержка «Эрудита»") {
+			t.Errorf("text = %q, want the Russian support reply", api.text)
+		}
+	})
+	t.Run("group ignored", func(t *testing.T) {
+		api := &fakeBotAPI{}
+		b := newTestBot(t, api)
+		b.handleSupport(context.Background(), b.api, &models.Update{Message: &models.Message{
+			Chat: models.Chat{ID: -100, Type: models.ChatTypeSupergroup}, Text: "/support",
+		}})
+		if api.chatID != "" {
+			t.Errorf("group /support got a reply (chat=%q); the bot never chats in the group", api.chatID)
+		}
+	})
+}

ui/e2e/telegram.spec.ts

@@ -122,6 +122,54 @@ test('outside Telegram, the /telegram/ entry shows the launch diagnostic, not a
   await expect(page.getByRole('button', { name: /guest/i })).toHaveCount(0);
 });
 
+test('inside Telegram (online-only), an offline signal never switches the app to offline mode', async ({
+  page,
+}) => {
+  // The Telegram mini-app is online-only: the offline model (implicit offline, device-local games,
+  // the transport kill switch) must stay inert there. Even when the net-state machine is driven to an
+  // offline state, offlineMode must remain false — otherwise the chrome turns blue, the lobby greys the
+  // server games and, critically, a vs_ai start would create a device-local game instead of enqueuing.
+  await page.addInitScript((stub) => {
+    Object.assign(window, stub);
+  }, webAppStub());
+  await page.goto('/');
+  await expect(page.getByText('Your turn')).toBeVisible(); // the durable mini-app session, in the lobby
+
+  // Drive the net-state machine to an offline state through the mock hook.
+  await page.evaluate(() => (window as unknown as { __net: { offline(): void } }).__net.offline());
+
+  // Because the channel is online-only, offlineMode stays inert: on the lobby the chrome never turns blue
+  // and no server game is greyed…
+  await expect(page.locator('header.nav.offline')).toHaveCount(0);
+  await expect(page.locator('.rowwrap.greyed')).toHaveCount(0);
+  // …and New Game's quick match still offers the opponent choice (AI / random), which is hidden only in
+  // real offline mode. Its presence is the positive proof that offlineMode is false — so the vs_ai start,
+  // whose device-local branch is gated on offlineMode, enqueues on the server instead of creating a
+  // device-local game.
+  await page.locator('button.tab').nth(0).click();
+  await expect(page.locator('button.opt', { hasText: '🤖' })).toBeVisible();
+});
+
+test('inside Telegram (online-only), New Game with friends offers remote invites only', async ({
+  page,
+}) => {
+  // A Telegram launch authenticates a durable account, so New Game shows the auto/with-friends selector.
+  // "Play with friends" must offer only the remote invite — never the online/offline segment, whose
+  // "Pass and play" is the device-local hotseat flow that has no place in an online-only mini-app.
+  await page.addInitScript((stub) => {
+    Object.assign(window, stub);
+  }, webAppStub());
+  await page.goto('/');
+  await expect(page.getByText('Your turn')).toBeVisible();
+
+  await page.locator('button.tab').nth(0).click(); // the New tab opens the create screen
+  await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Play with friends' }).click();
+
+  // The online/offline segment (Invite a friend / Pass and play) is absent — only the invite form shows.
+  await expect(page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Pass and play' })).toHaveCount(0);
+  await expect(page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Invite a friend' })).toHaveCount(0);
+});
+
 test('a blocked telegram-web-app.js does not hang the diagnostic screen', async ({ page }) => {
   // Simulate a network where telegram.org is unreachable: the SDK fetch fails. Because the SPA
   // loads the SDK dynamically with a timeout (not a render-blocking <script>), a failed/blocked

ui/src/lib/offline.svelte.ts

@@ -10,11 +10,24 @@ import { insideTelegram } from './telegram';
 import { insideVK } from './vk';
 import type { Profile } from './model';
 
+/**
+ * offlineCapable reports whether this channel supports the offline model — implicit offline mode,
+ * device-local games (vs_ai and hotseat) and the transport kill switch. Native builds and the plain web
+ * app do; the Telegram and VK mini-apps are online-only wrappers, so the whole offline model stays inert
+ * there (offlineMode.active is forced false regardless of the detected net state, and the create flow
+ * hides its device-local segment).
+ */
+export function offlineCapable(): boolean {
+  return !insideTelegram() && !insideVK();
+}
+
 /** offlineMode exposes the reactive offline flags; read them in markup / $derived. */
 export const offlineMode = {
-  /** active is true while the app is offline (the machine's offlineNoNetwork / offlineVersionLocked). */
+  /** active is true while the app is offline (the machine's offlineNoNetwork / offlineVersionLocked) on a
+   *  channel that supports offline play; it is always false in the online-only Telegram/VK mini-apps, so
+   *  every offline-model consumer (chrome, lobby, kill switch, device-local create) stays inert there. */
   get active(): boolean {
-    return netState.offline;
+    return netState.offline && offlineCapable();
   },
 };
 

ui/src/screens/NewGame.svelte

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
   import { gateway } from '../lib/gateway';
   import { app, handleError, showToast } from '../lib/app.svelte';
   import { connection } from '../lib/connection.svelte';
-  import { offlineMode } from '../lib/offline.svelte';
+  import { offlineMode, offlineCapable } from '../lib/offline.svelte';
   import { localSource, isLocalGameId } from '../lib/gamesource';
   import { newLocalGameId, randomSeed } from '../lib/localgame/id';
   import { localGuestId } from '../lib/localguest';
@@ -51,10 +51,14 @@
   ];
 
   const guest = $derived(app.profile?.isGuest ?? true);
+  // Whether this channel supports device-local play. Native and plain web do; the Telegram/VK mini-apps
+  // are online-only, so they offer no offline/hotseat segment and never create a device-local game. The
+  // channel is fixed for the session, so a plain const (not reactive) is enough.
+  const canPlayOffline = offlineCapable();
   let mode = $state<'auto' | 'friends'>('auto');
-  // Within "with friends": online = a remote invite, offline = a pass-and-play (hotseat) game on this
+  // Within "with friends" (offline-capable channels only): online = a remote invite, offline = a
-  // device. Both exist regardless of connectivity, but with no network the online segment is disabled
+  // pass-and-play (hotseat) game on this device. With no network the online segment is disabled and
-  // and offline is forced — so the create flow always works.
+  // offline is forced — so the create flow always works.
   let friendsMode = $state<'online' | 'offline'>('online');
   $effect(() => {
     if (offlineMode.active) friendsMode = 'offline';
@@ -410,14 +414,17 @@
           onlogin={() => { limitOpen = false; navigate('/profile'); }}
         />
       {:else}
-        <!-- With friends: an online remote invite, or an offline pass-and-play (hotseat) on this
+        <!-- With friends: an online remote invite, or an offline pass-and-play (hotseat) on this device.
-             device. Both exist regardless of connectivity, but with no network the online segment is
+             The online/offline segment is offered only on offline-capable channels (native / plain web);
-             disabled and offline is forced (friendsMode). -->
+             the online-only Telegram/VK mini-apps skip it and show the remote invite directly. With no
+             network the online segment is disabled and offline is forced (friendsMode). -->
+        {#if canPlayOffline}
         <div class="seg modes">
           <button class="opt" class:active={friendsMode === 'online'} disabled={offlineMode.active} onclick={() => (friendsMode = 'online')}>{t('new.playRemote')}</button>
           <button class="opt" class:active={friendsMode === 'offline'} onclick={() => (friendsMode = 'offline')}>{t('new.playLocal')}</button>
         </div>
         {#if offlineMode.active}<p class="dictnote">{t('new.needsNetwork')}</p>{/if}
+        {/if}
         {#if friendsMode === 'offline'}
         <!-- Offline pass-and-play (hotseat): a device-local 2-4 human game. The host sets a master
              PIN first (it gates the roster); each seat may add its own PIN. -->