Authorities in Ukraine and Russia disclosed that their emergency alert mobile applications were targeted by cyberattacks late Sunday, causing false notifications to be sent to users. In Ukraine, the official air‑raid alert channel on Telegram warned that “unauthorized parties” had interfered with the app’s operation, leading to a temporary suspension of the service.
False alerts in Kyiv
The compromised messages warned of a “high nuclear radiation danger” in Kyiv, as well as alleged chemical threats and public disturbances. The alerts were written in English with noticeable spelling and grammatical errors, and also appeared in a mix of Russian and Ukrainian. Ukrainian officials quickly restored the app overnight and urged users not to click on any links contained in the suspicious notifications.
Response from Ukrainian officials
Ukraine’s state‑run Center for Countering Disinformation reported the breach and advised citizens to monitor emergency channels on social media while relying on physical alerts such as sirens and municipal loudspeakers. The agency emphasized that the false messages did not reflect an actual emergency and that the broader alert system remained functional.
Russian ministry’s statement
Russian officials confirmed that hackers had gained access to the mobile app used by the Emergency Ministry to send alerts. The ministry did not identify the perpetrators, but reassured the public that the wider public alert system was operating normally. It noted that the mobile app is a supplementary service alongside SMS alerts, media broadcasts and municipal sirens.
Possible attribution
A Russian Telegram channel, Mash, which links to the security services, said it had spoken to representatives of the hacking group Hitcore, who claimed responsibility for the attack. This claim could not be independently verified. No further details about the attackers or their motives were provided by either government.
Advice for citizens
Both governments urged residents to remain vigilant and to verify any emergency notifications through official channels. In Ukraine, users were told to rely on physical alerts and to avoid clicking on links in suspicious messages. Russian officials similarly emphasized that the primary alert mechanisms—SMS, broadcast media and sirens—remained reliable.
The incidents highlight the growing cyber threat to critical public‑safety infrastructure in both countries. While the attacks were quickly mitigated, they serve as a reminder of the importance of robust cybersecurity measures for emergency communication systems.
Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.
