Both Russia and Ukraine Alarmed as Emergency Alert Apps Hacked, Fake Warnings of Nuclear and Radiological Attacks Sent - Thairath English
A cyberattack disrupted the emergency alert applications in both Russia and Ukraine, sending false warning messages to the public about radiological hazards and nuclear weapon attacks, causing panic.
Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have intensified after a cyberattack targeted the emergency alert applications of both countries on 1 November, sending false warning messages to users and causing confusion and alarm among the population.
Reports indicate that Ukraine was the first to detect irregularities. The Ukrainian Air Force revealed that Kyiv received a radiological hazard alert for a period, while Ukraine’s central intelligence agency stated that the air alert application malfunctioned, urging the public to verify information through other sources and not to panic over abnormal messages.
Ukraine’s Strategic Communications Center accused Russia of being behind the attack, releasing images of the suspicious alert messages on their X account and warning the public to ignore the fake messages appearing in the application.
Just hours later, Russian authorities reported that their emergency alert application was also hacked. Reports suggest hacker groups linked to Ukraine’s intelligence operations sent false nuclear attack warnings within Russia.
Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed that the public alert system continues to function normally. Citizens can still receive information via siren signals, loudspeakers, text messages, as well as television and radio broadcasts. The ministry noted that the app is only a supplementary information channel and that the hack did not affect the main alert system. Officials are working to restore the app to normal operation.
This cyberattack occurred during a sensitive period after Russia and Ukraine agreed to a 6-day ceasefire in the city of Oleshky, which has been under Russian occupation since 2022, allowing hundreds of civilians to evacuate. The agreement came through coordination efforts involving Melania Trump, the U.S. First Lady, and Pope Leo XIV.
This ceasefire marks the longest continuous pause in fighting since Russia launched its large-scale invasion of Ukraine. However, both sides have accused each other of using the ceasefire to reinforce frontlines, keeping the risk of renewed fighting high.
