Hackers Trigger False Nuclear Alerts on Ukraine Emergency App
Residents in Kyiv received warnings of imminent nuclear and chemical strikes late Sunday, while Russian forces moved equipment into a buffer zone in Kherson.
By Ivan Mori ·
Residents of Kyiv received urgent mobile notifications late Sunday warning of an imminent nuclear strike and chemical threat. The alerts appeared on the national emergency application just before 11pm local time. The messages contained spelling errors in English and Ukrainian. A separate message in Russian claimed the city was targeted by Oreshnik missiles. These are ballistic weapons capable of carrying nuclear warheads. The Kremlin has used this system three times previously, targeting the Kyiv region, Dnipro, and Lviv.
Many residents ignored the notifications, assuming the app had been compromised. Others reported fear. Nina, a woman in the capital, said she lay on her bed wondering what was coming. She described feeling briefly terrified. The Ukrainian emergency service confirmed that unauthorized parties interfered with the app’s operation. The service suspended the channel temporarily. It advised users not to click links in suspicious notifications.
The cyber incident occurred while Russia resumed attacks on Kherson. This happened hours after a ceasefire ended. During the pause, hundreds of people were evacuated from Oleshky, a town controlled by Russia near Kherson. The military administration in Kherson reported that a Russian drone struck a hospital at 7:40am. Video footage showed broken windows, damaged doors, and debris in the streets. Officials stated that no one was injured.
The six-day ceasefire was brokered by the White House. First Lady Melania Trump said it was arranged to allow for evacuations. Evidence suggests Russian forces used the pause to strengthen their positions. They rotated in new troops and removed bodies of dead civilians from a hospital morgue. Footage shared with Sky News showed Russian soldiers deploying heavy equipment and delivering ammunition. They carried large bags into burned-out buildings and disappeared into basements.
Armored vehicles moved through the streets of Oleshky. The city is three miles from Kherson, across the Dnipro River. Before the truce, resupply was difficult due to Ukrainian drone threats. Dmitry Pulinets, commander of Ukraine’s 34th Separate Marine Brigade, said Russian soldiers could not drive in the city before. Now they have that opportunity. He noted that movement has been constant for the last few days.
Russian officials claimed hackers also sent fake alerts in Russia. They said the hackers gained access to the app of the Moscow-based ministry for emergencies. One post mentioned the hacking group Hitcore. Mash, a Russian Telegram channel with links to security services, said it spoke to Hitcore representatives. They claimed responsibility for the attack. This report could not be verified independently.
The ceasefire expired at 11pm on Sunday. Both sides called the local pause a success. It was the most significant truce since 2022. Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s ombudsman, visited Oleshky to coordinate the mission. He said the model could be repeated on other parts of the frontline. However, Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for Vladimir Putin, said on Monday there are no plans for another truce elsewhere. He described troop regrouping as standard practice. He assumed Ukrainian forces had done the same.
