Ukraine Air Alert App Hacked; Russia’s App Also Hit — SkimNews
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- Air Alert was apparently hacked Sunday, sending a nationwide red-level air-raid warning at about 22:47, followed by a Kyiv radiation alert, a nuclear alert across Ukraine, and Kyiv chemical-attack and street-fighting warnings; all clears arrived at 23:53.
- Ukrainian Air Force said the radiation alert was false, stating there was no radiation threat and urging Telegram users to remain calm and follow official updates.
- Ukrainian Central Intelligence Agency said the app had failed, urged people to use other information sources, and reported that a radiation-hazard signal sounded on loudspeaker devices in the Lviv region.
- Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine temporarily disabled Air Alert for maintenance after it was “apparently compromised” and urged residents to turn on smartphone emergency notifications.
- Natalya Zabolotna, the Vinnytsia governor, said the Air Alert app had been cyber-attacked and warned residents not to click the message link because it could be a phishing attempt.
- Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations said its emergency app had endured a “massive cyberattack” that sent fake information to the public, but released no further details.
- Atesh claimed responsibility for the hack that sent fake nuclear-threat alerts inside Russia, according to UNN; an unverified screenshot it published urged users to stock provisions for three weeks and shelter in basements.
Why it matters: Ukrainian residents in multiple regions received false warnings from 22:47 until all-clear messages at 23:53, and officials had to direct users toward phone alerts and other official sources. The incident extended across the border: Russia’s emergency ministry said its app also suffered a “massive cyberattack,” affecting public warning channels on both sides.
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