Cyberattacks send false nuclear warnings through Ukrainian and Russian emergency apps

Ukraine's public air raid warning app sent users messages about nuclear danger, chemical threats and street fighting on Sunday night, November 1. The warnings were false, NBC News reported.

The incidents came around the end of a limited ceasefire in the Oleshky area of Kherson. Deutsche Welle reported that the ceasefire ended Sunday night without reported violations, while Russian drones and missiles struck other Ukrainian regions. The coverage does not establish a connection between the ceasefire's expiry and the app attacks.

On November 1, Ukraine's Air Force said its public alert app had been hacked. For a short period, it displayed nuclear and chemical warnings for Kyiv and other areas, according to CNN Brasil.

The false messages also claimed that Russia's hypersonic Oreshnik missile had been deployed, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. These were claims in the erroneous alerts, not confirmed military developments.

Ukrainian authorities said there was no threat and advised the public to follow official channels, BBC News reported. In coverage published November 2, Al Jazeera said authorities reported clearing up the confusion in under an hour.

Russia then reported an attack on its own emergency warning app. Infobae reported on November 2 that Russia described a massive cyberattack, hours after Ukraine's announcement. Moscow said hackers had posted false information, according to Japan Times.

Ukraine's air raid alert channel said unauthorized parties had interfered with the app's operations, prompting authorities to suspend the service temporarily, Mint reported on November 2.

Both countries have reported cyberattacks against apps used to warn the public about danger. The nuclear and radiation warnings described in the coverage were false, not evidence of an actual nuclear emergency. CBC News reported that users in Ukraine received false warnings of dangerously high radiation levels in Kyiv.

The available coverage does not establish whether Ukraine's suspended service has been fully restored. Nor does it establish a common attacker or a technical link between the incidents. CNBC International described them as separate cyberattacks.

The immediate questions are whether the affected services are operating normally again and how the false messages reached users. The provided reports do not explain the method of intrusion or establish responsibility. For residents, the guidance reported by BBC News remains to follow official channels for information.