Ukraine air raid app hacked again as false radiation alerts spread to Kyiv and Lviv region

Ukraine's air raid alert app was apparently hacked on Sunday evening, sending a series of false emergency warnings to users in Kyiv and prompting concern in other parts of the country. The messages briefly told people there was a radiation threat, followed by alerts about a nuclear attack, a chemical attack and street fighting. Officials said the incident appeared to be hostile interference with a system that is normally used to warn civilians about real air raids and other emergencies.

The Ukrainian Air Force said the app had probably been subjected to hostile interference and stressed that there was no radiation threat. The first false alert was sent at about 22:47 local time, with further messages following within minutes. The Ukrainian Central Intelligence Agency also said there had been a failure in the app and urged people to rely on other official channels for information about air strikes and defence alerts.

The disruption was not limited to mobile phones. In a separate statement, the Ukrainian Central Intelligence Agency said the radiation hazard signal was also played on loudspeakers in the Lviv region, although there was no actual radiation danger. The governor of Vinnytsia region, Natalya Zabolotna, said there had been a cyberattack on the app and warned people not to click on links in the message.

Officials also advised the public to keep smartphone notifications switched on, listen for sirens and follow only official sources. The incident matters because Ukraine's alert systems are part of everyday civil defence during the war, helping people respond quickly to missile, drone and other security threats. A false warning can create confusion, reduce trust in official messages and complicate the work of local authorities.

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It also shows how digital systems used for public safety can become targets in a conflict where information channels are closely contested. The Air Alert app is supported by the Ministry of Digital Transformation and is designed to inform users instantly when defence alerts begin and end. The latest episode follows earlier concerns about cyber interference with state services and public information channels during the war.

It also underlines the importance of backup communication methods when a digital warning tool is disrupted. What remains unclear is who was behind the interference, how the app was compromised and how many people received the false alerts. Officials have not yet given technical details about the breach or said whether the system has been fully secured.

The next questions are whether investigators can identify the source of the attack and whether the warning network can be strengthened against similar disruptions.

Residents in Kyiv received mobile alerts warning of chemical and nuclear risks on Sunday evening, in what local officials said was likely the result of a hacker intrusion into the warning system. The same type of alert was also sent to people in Zaporizhzhia, a city in southeastern Ukraine close to the front line of the war with Russia. The messages also referred to street fighting, adding to concern among users who saw the notifications on their phones.

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The Kyiv Military Administration said the alerts were issued after a probable cyber intrusion into the system. According to the public Ukrainian warning tool, the notifications were sent at about 10:50 pm local time, which was 5:50 pm in Brazil. Officials said the Air Alert app, used to warn the population, had probably been subject to hostile influence.

Some residents posted screenshots on social media showing the messages, and one said the alert appeared in Russian. The incident affected two major urban centres at a time when Ukraine remains under regular threat from missiles, drones and other wartime disruptions. Public warning systems are a key part of civil defence in the country, helping residents respond quickly to air raids and other emergencies.

A false or manipulated alert can create confusion, undermine trust in official warnings and complicate the work of local authorities. Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia have both been exposed to repeated security risks since the full-scale war began, although the latest episode appears to have targeted the digital alert infrastructure rather than physical sites. Zaporizhzhia is especially sensitive because of its proximity to the front line.

The use of a public warning app means any interference can have immediate consequences for civilians who rely on it for timely instructions. The case also highlights the wider vulnerability of wartime communications systems to cyber interference. Ukraine has repeatedly faced attempts to disrupt state services and public information channels during the conflict, making digital resilience an important part of national security.

In this instance, officials framed the problem as likely enemy influence, but they did not immediately provide technical details about how the intrusion may have happened. It remains unclear who was behind the alerts, whether the system was compromised directly or through another form of interference, and how many people received the false warnings. Authorities have not yet said whether the app has been fully secured or whether any investigation is under way.

What to watch next is whether officials confirm the cause, restore confidence in the alert system and explain how similar disruptions will be prevented.

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