Hackers push nuclear-threat alerts on emergency apps in Ukraine and Russia
Ukraine's widely used Air Alert app sent warnings of radiation, chemical threats and a nuclear strike on Sunday night that Ukrainian authorities said were not real. Hours later, Russia's emergencies ministry said its own app was hit by a massive cyberattack that spread threat messages it called fake. Officials said there was no radiation danger.
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Ukraine
Just before 11 p.m. local time Sunday, Ukraine's Air Alert app began sending warnings of a radiation hazard, chemical threat, nuclear alert and street fighting in Kyiv, BBC, CBS News and Newsweek reported. Ukrainian authorities said those alerts were not genuine. A follow-up message in Russian claimed an Oreshnik missile was in action, BBC and NBC News reported. Ukraine's Air Force said the app appeared compromised and that there was no radiation threat; developers temporarily suspended push notifications, CBS News and CNBC reported. Newsweek said more than 6.6 million people rely on the app for air-threat notices.
Russia
Hours later, Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations said its mobile app suffered a massive cyberattack that let attackers send information to the public that the ministry said was not real, TASS and CNBC reported. Authorities in both countries said they were investigating; it was not immediately clear whether the incidents were linked.
Public reaction
Many Ukrainians doubted the messages quickly, especially after references to street fighting in Kyiv, BBC reported, though some said they were briefly frightened. Breitbart likewise described imminent-strike alerts on apps in Kyiv and Moscow that officials moved to retract.