Ukraine's air raid alert system hacked, Air Force says as false nuclear, chemical warnings sound
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Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
Ukraine's air raid alert system was hacked late Nov. 1, the Air Force said, as sirens sounded across the country and people received false alerts warning of nuclear, chemical, and street fighting threats.
Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground received notifications on their phones from the officially supported Air Alert app, made in collaboration between the Digital Transformation Ministry and security technology company Ajax Systems.
"Hi! A nuclear alert is about to go off all across Ukraine! Don't worry, the Oreshnik is on its way," one of the false warnings read in Russian on the Air Alert app.
Air raid alerts also sounded in streets across the country, including Zakarpattia Oblast in western Ukraine, journalists on the ground reported.
"It is likely that the 'Air Alert' app has been compromised by the enemy. There is no radiation threat! Please stay calm and follow our updates on our (Telegram) channel," Ukraine's Air Force said.
Several regional governors also warned that the system was hacked and advised residents that there was no threat.
"Currently, the situation in the oblast is calm. Reports indicate a cyberattack on the notification app," Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast Governor Svitlana Onyshchuk said.
Officials also warned the cyberattack could involve a phishing operation with attached links.
"Cyberattack on the 'Air Alert' app. Do not click on the link in the message," Vinnytsia Oblast Governor Natalia Zabolotna reported.
The false alerts were then cleared about an hour later.
