False nuclear and chemical alerts flood Ukraine and Russia after ceasefire ends
Within minutes of the humanitarian ceasefire in Oleshky ending, cyber attackers sent false warnings of nuclear launches, chemical danger and street fighting through Ukraine's Air Alert app and Russia's emergency alert system. The Ukrainian app briefly displayed alerts for radiation and a Russian Oreshnik missile, then was disabled while developers restored service. Russia's Ministry of Emergencies app broadcast messages claiming nuclear warheads had been launched across all regions. Both incidents occurred after a ceasefire brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump, which ran from 27 Oct to 1 Nov.
Key facts
- The ceasefire began on 27 Oct and ended on 1 Nov, allowing a humanitarian mission to Oleshky.
- Ukraine's Air Alert app has been downloaded over 46 million times and serves more than 6.7 million daily users.
- A Telegram channel named Hitcorecorp claimed responsibility for the Ukrainian hack.
- Russia's emergency alert breach sent messages about nuclear warheads across all Russian regions.
- Both Ukraine and Russia said core alert systems continued operating despite the false messages.
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Why it matters
False alerts could cause panic and disrupt civilian safety measures.
What changed
First published from BBC News, The Straits Times, Al Jazeera English, ABC News (Australia) and Hindustan Times