Cyberattacks hit Russia and Ukraine air raid alert apps
The digital attacks occurred after a localised ceasefire in the Kherson region ended on Sunday.
Russia and Ukraine reported cyberattacks on their respective emergency warning applications on Monday, according to Al Jazeera and The Hindu. Moscow’s Emergencies Ministry stated that its app, used to warn of incoming drone attacks, was hit by a "massive cyberattack" that spread false information.
Earlier on Sunday, the Ukrainian Air Force said its air raid alert app appeared to have been subjected to "enemy influence." The Ukrainian Air Force reported that users received fake alerts regarding potential street combat and nuclear or chemical threats in and around Kyiv. An erroneous message also claimed that Russia’s hypersonic Oreshnik missile had been deployed.
The Ukrainian Centre for Strategic Communications, SPRAVDI, blamed Russia for the hack. While the national alert app was compromised, Kyiv authorities noted that a separate app specifically for the capital was working normally. Air force spokesman Yuriy Ignat confirmed to AFP that the app had been hacked.
The cyberattacks follow the end of a localised truce in the Russian-occupied Kherson region. The ceasefire, which ran from October 27 to November 1, was the longest of the war so far. Ukraine’s Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, described the temporary truce as an important step for humanitarian efforts.