Ukraine’s public air raid alert application was reportedly targeted in a cyberattack on Sunday, briefly displaying false warnings of nuclear and chemical threats in Kyiv and other parts of the country, according to media reports.
The country’s Air Force said the application appeared to have been affected by hostile interference. Users also received misleading notifications about possible street fighting and an alleged deployment of Russia’s Oreshnik hypersonic missile.
The Air Force clarified that there was no radiation threat and urged people not to panic.
“There is no radiation threat! Stay calm and follow our updates on our channel,” it said in a statement posted on Telegram.
Ukraine’s Ministry for Digital Transformation said the application was temporarily not operational. However, other public warning systems, including air raid sirens, continued to function.
Officials advised residents to rely on verified government communications for information about security threats.
In a separate incident, Russia’s Emergencies Ministry also reported a cyberattack on its mobile application early on Monday. According to state news agency TASS, the attack resulted in false information being circulated among users.
Both countries reported problems with their emergency alert applications within hours of each other. However, there was no immediate confirmation that the incidents were connected.
The incidents have raised concerns about the reliability of digital emergency warning systems during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
