Ukraine's Air Raid Alert App Hacked, False Radiation Alerts Sent
Ukraine's air raid alert application was reportedly hacked, causing users to receive false alerts about radiation and chemical threats in Kyiv. Authorities confirmed there is no actual threat and urged the public to rely on official communications.
Ukraine's air raid alert app experienced a hacking incident on Sunday, leading to false notifications about radiation threats in the capital, Kyiv. The Ukrainian Air Force issued a statement via Telegram confirming that the application had likely been compromised and reassured the public that there was no radiation threat, advising them to remain calm and follow official updates.
The Ukrainian Central Intelligence Agency reported a malfunction in the app and encouraged citizens to consult other sources for accurate information regarding potential air strikes. The false alerts began around 22:47 (20:47 GMT), with messages declaring a radiation threat, followed by additional alerts regarding chemical and street fighting threats.
Subsequent notifications clarified that each of these threats had been resolved. The Central Intelligence Agency also noted that the false radiation signal had been broadcast through loudspeakers in the Lviv region, reiterating that there was no actual radiation hazard. Authorities urged the public to enable smartphone notifications, heed sirens, and rely solely on official communications for updates. Natalya Zabolotna, governor of Vinnytsia oblast, confirmed the cyberattack and warned users against clicking on links in the erroneous messages.