Emergency alert apps in Ukraine and Russia hit by false nuclear warnings

Emergency alert apps in Ukraine and Russia were reportedly compromised overnight Sunday into Monday, sending users false warnings of radiation danger and nuclear strikes.

Residents of Kyiv received an alert claiming a severe radiation threat. Hours later, Russian authorities reported a breach of their emergency app, which displayed a fabricated warning that nuclear warheads had been launched toward every region of Russia. The message urged users to stockpile food for three weeks and seek shelter.

Ukraine’s Air Force said the air raid alert app appeared to have suffered hostile interference and reassured residents that there was no radiation threat. It urged the public to remain calm and follow updates on its official Telegram channel.

Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate also confirmed a malfunction and advised residents to consult alternative sources for airstrike warnings. The government’s Center for Strategic Communications blamed Moscow and urged users to disregard unusual messages. The account provided no independent confirmation of responsibility or evidence linking the breaches in the two countries.

Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry said a large cyberattack had disabled its app but stressed that the wider public warning network remained operational. Sirens, television broadcasts and text messages were unaffected, according to the ministry.

The false alerts in Ukraine appeared minutes before a six-day ceasefire expired in Oleshky, a city captured by Russian forces in 2022. The pause had allowed hundreds of residents to be evacuated. The Kremlin said it regarded those humanitarian operations as separate from the peace process.