Ukraine and Russia both report cyberattacks on emergency apps

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Authorities in both Ukraine and Russia report their emergency alert mobile applications were struck by cyberattacks on Sunday, with Ukrainian residents receiving messages of high nuclear radiation danger in the capital Kyiv. The Ukrainian air raid alert channel announced on Telegram that "unauthorized parties" had interfered with the messaging app's operation, temporarily suspending it.

The alerts contained false claims of high radiation levels, chemical threats, and disturbances in Kyiv, written in English with spelling and grammar errors, as well as mixed Russian and Ukrainian. Russian Telegram channel Mash claimed responsibility, citing representatives of the Hitcore hacking group, though this could not be independently verified.

Ukraine's state-run Center for Countering Disinformation reported the breach and advised users to rely on physical alerts while the cyberattack was addressed. Russian officials said Monday that hackers gained access to the Emergency Ministry's mobile app, without naming the culprit. They reassured the public that the broader alert system was functioning normally, emphasizing the mobile app's supplementary role alongside SMS alerts, media broadcasts, and municipal sirens and loudspeakers.