Ukraine air raid app apparently hacked as users receive false radiation threat, Air Force says

Ukraine's air raid alert app was apparently hacked on Sunday and for a short time remarked the capital Kyiv was subject to a radiation threat, the Ukrainian Air Force has stated.

Key points

• The messages, in Ukrainian, began at approximately 22: 47 (20: 47 GMT), with the first reading: Radiation threat.
• The Air Force message on Telegram read: The Air Alarm application has probably been subjected to hostile interference.
• A third alert, at 22: 49, again in Ukrainian, remarked Chemical threat.
• At 22: 49, a fourth alert stated there was a Street fighting threat.
• The Air Alert app is backed by the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, and informs users instantly concerning the beginning and end of defence alerts.

Meanwhile, the Air Force message on Telegram read: "The Air Alarm application has probably been subjected to hostile interference. There is no radiation threat! Stay calm and follow our updates on our channel."

For context, the Ukrainian Central Intelligence Agency remarked on Telegram that there had been a failure in the app, and called on individuals to apply other sources of information to clarify the situation regarding the threat of air strikes.

For context, the messages, in Ukrainian, began at approximately 22: 47 (20: 47 GMT), with the first reading: "Radiation threat. Radiation threat declared in Kyiv."

In practice, the next alert, written in Russian, came at 22: 48. It read: "Hi! There will be a nuclear alert throughout Ukraine. Don't worry, it's Oreshnik flying".

Notably, a third alert, at 22: 49, again in Ukrainian, remarked "Chemical threat. There is a threat of a chemical attack on Kyiv. Don't go outside."

At 22: 49, a fourth alert stated there was a "Street fighting threat. Street fighting is taking place in Kyiv. Don't go outside."

Notably, a series of all clear messages were then delivered to users' phones. It were connected to each of the previous alerts, individually declaring each threat clear.

In a separate post, the Ukrainian Central Intelligence Agency remarked that due to the Air Alert application, the Radiation Hazard signal was played on loudspeaker devices in the Lviv region, and went on there was no threat of radiation hazard.

It advised the public to turn on notifications on your smartphone, pay attention to sirens, and to only read official sources.

Notably, the governor of Vinnytsia oblast, Natalya Zabolotna remarked there had been a cyberattack on the Air Alert app and posted a warning on Telegram not to click on the link in the message.

In practice, the Air Alert app is backed by the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, and informs users instantly concerning the beginning and end of defence alerts.

Taken together, the developments around ukraine air raid app apparently hacked as users receive false radiation threat, point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.