Emergency alert apps hacked in Russia and Ukraine, sending false warnings of nuclear threats

Cybercriminals orchestrated a coordinated assault on emergency alert applications in Russia and Ukraine, disseminating false warnings of nuclear catastrophe. The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations reported the breach, stating that hackers were able to send deceptive messages to the public, claiming "nuclear warheads" had been launched across the nation. However, the ministry affirmed that the cyberattack had not impeded the functioning of the public alert system.

In Ukraine, the "Air Alert" application was likewise targeted by malicious actors, who displayed notifications regarding radiation and chemical peril, as well as the imminent threat of urban warfare, along with a message written in Russian: "Hi! There will be a nuclear alert across all of Ukraine right now! Don't worry, the Oreshnik is coming!"

The Ukrainian Air Force declared that the application had undoubtedly been compromised and emphasized that there was no actual radiation risk. They also disabled the notifications temporarily.

It was reported by Meduza that the story was penned by one of their human journalists and translated from the original Russian using an AI model that adheres to their stringent journalistic guidelines. Every draft undergoes a thorough review by a Meduza editor before publication. For any discrepancies found in this translation, readers are encouraged to contact reports@meduza.io.