Ukraine, Russia report fake emergency alerts as cyberattacks target apps
False warnings in Ukraine
Ukraine’s emergency alert service was suspended after an attack, then returned to operation, authorities said. Residents use the app to seek safety during daily Russian missile and drone strikes.
One Russian-language alert warned of a nuclear threat and referred to the Oreshnik missile. Ukraine’s air raid alert channel said unauthorized parties had interfered with the app and urged users to avoid links in suspicious notifications.
Russia reports app breach
The ministry said it had found the digital vulnerability and was taking measures to prevent another breach. It said the wider alert system remained operational through SMS, broadcasts, sirens and loudspeakers.
Russian authorities said efforts to restore the app’s functionality were continuing. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said government agencies faced a constant cyberattack threat, including attacks using artificial intelligence.
Unclear links and impact
It was not clear whether the attacks in Ukraine and Russia were connected. A Russian Telegram channel said the group Hitcore had claimed responsibility for breaching Ukraine’s system, but that claim could not be independently verified; details about the alleged hackers’ identities and motives were unclear.
Separately, authorities in Ukraine’s Kherson region reported Russian drone attacks early Monday, after a humanitarian ceasefire expired. The regional administration said a 62-year-old woman and a 73-year-old man were hospitalized with blast injuries in Kherson, across the Dnipro River from Russian-occupied territory.
Key points
- Ukraine’s alert app resumed operation after false warnings prompted its suspension.
- Russia said a fake alert reached users in 33 regions through its ministry app.
- Ukraine said the cyberattack did not affect military command systems.
- Two people were hospitalized after reported drone attacks in Kherson.