Millions sent terrifying fake nuclear attack warnings after emergency apps hacked

Air raid warning app sent out messages just before midnight

Both sides said their systems were compromised, as the fake alerts hit both countries.

First hit by the fake warnings was Ukraine, where 6.7 million people use the air raid alert app.

According to its digital transformation ministry and the app's developer, Ajax Systems, the air raid warning app sent out messages in Ukrainian just before midnight of a “radiation threat” in Kyiv.

In Russian, a follow-up message said: “There will be a nuclear alert across Ukraine. Don't worry, it's Oreshnik flying.”

Russia considers the Oreshnik one of the most powerful intermediate-range ballistic missiles.

This missile can travel at roughly 10 times the speed of sound and can disperse multiple warheads in clusters.

According to Russia, it is also capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Other false warnings included 'street fights' and 'chemical threats'

Business Insider reported that other false messages warned of chemical threats and “street fights” in Kyiv.

In Ukraine, people routinely rely on the Ukrainian air force’s Telegram channel for air raid and drone threat alerts.

Later, it said there was “no radiation threat” and that its app had likely been compromised.

For the fake messages, Russia was blamed by Ukraine’s centre for strategic communications, SPRAVDI.

In a post on X, it said: “If you see strange messages in the app, disregard.”

Russia's emergency ministry hours later said its mobile app had also been “subjected to a massive cyberattack” that sent out false information to the public.

While Ukraine blamed Russia, the latter did not officially accuse anyone of the cyberattack.

As the war rages, both countries have waged cyberattack campaigns against each other.

Ukraine has also accused Russia of launching cyberattacks on critical civilian and energy infrastructure.