Ukrainian official reveals goal of Russia's cyberattack on Air Alert app
Photo: Russia’s cyberattack on the Air Alert app was intended to sow panic (Getty Images)
Russia’s cyberattack on Ukraine’s Air Alert app was aimed at undermining public trust in the country’s air raid alert system, according to Ivan Slychko, head of the Media Literacy Department at the Center for Countering Disinformation.
Air Alert app hacked
During the cyberattack on November 1, users received fake notifications about radiation and chemical threats, street fighting in Kyiv, and a missile threat across Ukraine. This could have triggered panic and disoriented people, Slychko said.
At the same time, Russian cyber attackers failed to achieve their intended effect:
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Ukrainians mostly remained calm;
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official agencies promptly debunked the false reports.
"The goal of such attacks is not only to disrupt the service but also to sow distrust and a sense of vulnerability," he explained.
On November 1, the Air Alert application malfunctioned, falsely warning users of a chemical threat in Kyiv. The app was likely targeted by an enemy cyberattack.
Later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the attack on Russia’s emergency alert system was a response to a Russian cyberattack.
