Rival hackers claim credit after fake nuclear strike alerts are sent to millions through Ukrainian and Russian emergency apps
The hoax struck minutes after loudspeakers in Lviv blared the fake warnings aloud, as Russia simultaneously claimed its own emergency app suffered a cyberattack sending fake nuclear alerts inside Russia.
Ukraine's Air Alert app, used by 6.7 million people daily, was hijacked at 10:47pm Sunday, firing off false warnings of radiation hazards, chemical attacks and street fighting in Kyiv — with some alerts written in Russian and one linking to a hacker group's Telegram channel. Hours later, Russia's own Emergencies Ministry app was struck, with false nuclear strike warnings pushed to users across 33 regions.
A newly-founded group called 'Hitcore' claimed responsibility for the Ukrainian breach; Ukrainian hacktivists are suspected of the retaliatory hit on Russia's system.
Ukraine's Air Force issued a denial within 15 minutes, but it took more than an hour for a full all-clear to reach users.
Russia's app attack told residents 'nuclear warheads' were inbound at all regions and instructed them to stockpile food for three weeks and shelter in basements.
