Fake nuclear alerts sent through Ukraine's emergency app, Kyiv says
Russia also reported cyberattacks on its alert systems as strikes continued across both countries.
Key facts
Story- Hackers sent false nuclear, chemical and street fighting warnings to residents in Kyiv
- The fake messages were written in English and Ukrainian, with spelling mistakes
- Russia and Ukraine both reported cyberattacks on their emergency alert applications
Unknown hackers sent residents in Kyiv a false warning that they faced an imminent nuclear strike. The message came through Ukraine's nationwide emergency alert mobile app late on Sunday.
The app also falsely warned of a chemical threat to Kyiv and of street-to-street fighting. The messages were written partly in English and partly in Ukrainian, and contained spelling mistakes. Authorities have not said how many people received them.
Russia has also reported cyberattacks on the applications it uses to send emergency alerts to the public. Ukraine and Russia both reported the attacks on the same day, as strikes continued across both countries.
The attackers have not been identified. Neither government has publicly named a suspect.
Emergency alert systems are widely used during air raids and other threats in both countries. Attacks on them can spread panic quickly, because people act on the warnings they receive. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine will stop strikes on refineries if the United States sends Patriot missiles, which are used to shoot down aircraft and missiles.
It is not yet known how the hackers gained access to the app, or whether the Russian attacks were linked to the Ukrainian ones. Officials have not said when they will release more detail on the investigation.
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