Fake nuclear warnings spread as cyberattacks hit Russia, Ukraine

Russia and Ukraine said they’ve experienced malicious cyberattacks on their emergency alert apps, while hackers sent false alerts to the apps warning of nuclear and chemical threats to people, Al Jazeera reported.

Ukraine’s Air Force said its Air Alert application had been subjected to hostile interference on Sunday, briefly displaying false warnings about radiation, chemical threats, and street fighting in Kyiv and other areas. One false alert said Russia had launched its Oreshnik hypersonic missile.

“There is no radiation danger! Keep calm and follow our updates on our channel!” Ukraine’s Air Force wrote in a Telegram release.

The Centre for Strategic Communications in Ukraine accused Russia of the strike.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations said that, hours after the invasion, it was hit by “a massive cyberattack” that used the app to “spread false information” to the population.

The ministry said its broader public warning system was still functioning, with sirens, text messages and television and radio broadcasts still able to broadcast warning alerts, TASS reported.

The incidents happened as a localised ceasefire in Ukraine’s Kherson region, which started on October 27, was brought to an end on November 1. It was unclear whether the two cyberattacks were linked.