Hacked alert apps send false nuclear warnings in Ukraine, Russia

Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of hacking their emergency alert systems, after apps in both countries sent false radiation warnings to civilians on Sunday and Monday, Al Jazeera reports.

Ukraine’s Air Force said users of its Air Alert app got fake warnings late on Sunday. The messages warned of nuclear and chemical threats around Kyiv and street combat, and claimed Russia had deployed its hypersonic Oreshnik missile.

“There is no radiation threat! Stay calm and follow our updates on our channel,” the Air Force said on Telegram.

Ukraine’s Center for Strategic Communications blamed Russia, pointing to Russian-language text in one of the messages.

On Monday, Russia’s Emergencies Ministry said a large-scale cyberattack had hit its warning app, which then falsely warned of drone strikes. Reports said users were also told that nuclear-armed Ukrainian drones had been launched, and were urged to stock up on food.

The hacks came as a six-day ceasefire in Russian-occupied Kherson ended. It appears to be the first time either country’s official alert app has been breached.