Ukrainians received a wave of messages Sunday night warning of radiation hazards, chemical threats, and street fights, which authorities later confirmed were baseless and the result of a cyberattack on the country's emergency alert application.
What happened
The messages, which began around 10:45 p.m. Kyiv time, warned residents not to go outside and referenced a Russian nuclear-capable hypersonic missile. Ukraine's air force said the Air Alert app had most likely been compromised by the enemy, and the app's creators confirmed that unauthorized third parties had interfered with its operation.
Russia's emergencies ministry also reported a massive cyberattack on its mobile application, resulting in the dissemination of fake information to the public. The public alert system was restored, and authorities emphasized that the app was only an additional, supplementary information service.
The incidents came just hours after a temporary ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow ended in the occupied southern Ukrainian region of Kherson. The truce, which held for six days, allowed the evacuation of hundreds of residents from the front-line town of Oleshky.
