Ukraine, Russia emergency alert apps hit by cyberattacks; fake nuclear radiation alerts sent to users — What we know

Emergency alert mobile apps in Ukraine and Russia were hit by cyberattacks over the weekend, according to a report. The fake alerts sent to users claimed dangerously high levels of nuclear radiation in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. Ukraine's air raid alert channel warned in a Telegram post that unauthorized parties had interfered with the app, forcing authorities to suspend it temporarily.

The app, relied upon by many Ukrainians for warnings and shelter during Russian missile and drone attacks, was restored overnight. The fake alerts, written in English with grammatical errors, also falsely claimed a chemical threat and public disturbances in Kyiv. One notification mentioned the hacking group Hitcore, though verification of this claim was unconfirmed.

Ukraine's state-run Center for Countering Disinformation confirmed the breach and advised citizens to use official social media channels and physical alerts while the app was being restored. The Russian Emergency Ministry's mobile app was similarly targeted, with fake alerts sent to users, though the responsible party was not identified.

The Russian government spokesperson noted that government agencies, including the emergency ministry, are constantly under cyber threats, including those involving artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, Russian drone attacks continued in the Kherson region following the expiration of a temporary humanitarian ceasefire on Monday.