Authorities in both Ukraine and Russia reported cyberattacks targeting their respective emergency alert mobile applications late Sunday.
In Ukraine, unauthorized parties interfered with the operation of the air raid alert channel's messaging app, leading to its temporary suspension. Residents received false notifications, written in English with spelling errors and grammatical mistakes, as well as in a mix of Russian and Ukrainian, claiming high nuclear radiation danger, a chemical threat, and public disturbances in Kyiv. Ukraine’s air raid alert channel warned users not to click on suspicious notifications.
Ukrainian officials said the app, which is crucial for citizens seeking safety during frequent Russian missile and drone strikes, was restored overnight. The state-run Center for Countering Disinformation urged users to monitor emergency channels on social media and rely on physical alerts while the cyberattack was being addressed.
Russian officials stated that hackers gained access to the mobile app for Russia’s Emergency Ministry and sent fake alerts. The ministry did not identify the perpetrators but reassured the public that the wider alert system remained operational, with the mobile app serving as a supplementary service.
A Russian Telegram channel with alleged ties to security services reported that the hacking group Hitcore claimed responsibility for the attack on Ukraine's app, though this claim could not be independently verified. Authorities in Ukraine mentioned Hitcore in their reporting of the breach.