Fake Nuclear Attack Alerts Hit Ukraine and Russia After Alert Apps Were Compromised

Official alert apps in Ukraine and Russia sent false nuclear-threat warnings to millions of users on Sunday, with both sides saying their systems were compromised. Ukraine’s air raid alert app is used by 6.7 million people, according to its digital transformation ministry and Ajax Systems. The first fake Ukrainian alerts warned of a “radiation threat in Kyiv” and then referenced a nationwide nuclear alert tied to the Oreshnik missile.

The Ukrainian air force’s Telegram channel later said there was “no radiation threat” and that its app had likely been compromised. SPRAVDI, Ukraine’s center for strategic communications, blamed Russia and advised users to disregard strange messages in the app. The false alerts also reportedly included warnings about chemical threats and “street fights” in Kyiv.

Hours after the Ukraine alerts, Russia’s emergency ministry said its mobile app had been “subjected to a massive cyberattack” that sent false information to the public. Regional Telegram channels run by the ministry issued nonsensical warnings, including a claim that “P1-Sun carriers” were sending nuclear warheads to Russia. Russia has not officially accused anyone of the cyberattack.

The incident shows how public warning systems can become targets during wartime, creating panic even when no attack has occurred. Business Insider notes that Ukraine and Russia have used cyberattack campaigns against each other, including disruptions to public alert services and false warnings. A similar incident in Russia occurred in February 2023, when radio and TV stations broadcast fake air raid and missile alerts.