Millions of people in Ukraine and Russia received false emergency alerts on their cell phones, warning of an imminent nuclear strike. The alerts were sent through air raid warning apps, which were reportedly hacked.
What happened
The Air Alert app, used by millions of Ukrainians, sent a series of messages warning of a radiation threat, an imminent strike by a Russian missile, and a chemical weapons attack alert for Kyiv. Similar messages were sent to Russians in Moscow and other cities through their own national air raid warning app, instructing them to stock up on food and take cover in shelters.
However, Ukraine's air force quickly countered the alerts, stating that the Air Alert app had likely been compromised and that there was no radiation threat. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia had launched a real air raid against Ukraine, including Kyiv, using 193 drones, but that 154 of them were shot down or redirected.
The incident has been blamed on a hack, with Ukraine accusing Russian hackers of being responsible. The false alerts were sent during an actual air raid by Russian forces against Ukraine, causing confusion and concern among the population.
