Hacked Emergency Alert Apps Spread False Warnings in Ukraine and Russia

Kyiv — On Sunday night, Ukrainian and Russian emergency alert apps were hacked, leading to false warnings about radiation, chemical attacks, and nuclear strikes. The incidents occurred hours apart.

At 10:47 p.m. local time in Ukraine, the Air Alert app, developed by Ajax Systems and Stfalcon with support from Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation, began sending out incorrect notifications about various threats, including street fighting in Kyiv. Many citizens rely on this app to gauge whether to seek shelter from incoming Russian attacks. Telegram is another important source, where the Ukrainian Air Force provides detailed threat information.

The Ukrainian Air Force quickly addressed the issue, confirming at 11:02 p.m. local time that the alerts were false. They said the app was tampered with and ensured there was no radiation threat. The message encouraged Ukrainians to stay calm and follow official channels for updates.

Earlier in the day, Russia’s Emergencies Ministry app also faced a breach around 2:45 a.m. Moscow time. False alerts about the launch of nuclear warheads were sent to users in 33 regions, advising them to stock up on essentials and seek safety underground. The Russian authorities reacted by disconnecting and isolating impacted services, citing a vulnerability in the app’s administrative panel.

The developers of Ukraine’s Air Alert app acknowledged unauthorized interference and took steps by temporarily disabling the app’s notifications and functionality. Yurii Ihnat, a representative of the Ukrainian Air Force, stated that the hack did not affect Ukraine’s security operations, affirming that the app is not connected with military command systems.

The hacking incidents coincided with the expiration of a temporary ceasefire in Oleshky, a southern city occupied by Russia since 2022. The ceasefire, attributed to efforts by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump and Pope Leo, started on Oct. 27, facilitating humanitarian aid and civilian evacuations. Ukraine’s human rights commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, noted that both sides honored the agreement and were discussing additional aid measures.