Zelenskyy confirms Ukraine retaliated after Russian cyberattack on emergency alert system
Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in an interview to PBS News, stated that Ukraine hacked Russia's emergency alert system in response to a Russian cyberattack. Before that, Ukrainian users had received fake warnings about a nuclear threat.
On Sunday, November 1, Ukrainian authorities reported fake alerts appearing in a mobile emergency notification app. Users received messages warning of an imminent nuclear threat.
The system was temporarily suspended but is now back online. The cyberattacks targeting the alert apps coincided with the end of a limited ceasefire.
Zelenskyy confirmed that the attack on Russia's system was a response to Moscow's actions.
“We are only responding to their attacks,” the president stressed.
According to Zelenskyy, Russia had attacked Ukraine's system in what was specifically a cyberattack. Once it became clear that the attack was targeting civilians, Ukraine decided to retaliate.
On Monday, November 2, Russian authorities said hackers had gained access to their mobile emergency alert app and used it to send users fake warnings.
The disruption occurred on the evening of November 1, when the Air Alert app stopped working. At the same time, the entire map of Ukraine on an air raid alert website turned red. Messages also appeared warning of alleged street fighting and chemical and radiation hazards in Kyiv.
Later, Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat confirmed in a comment to RBC-Ukraine that the app had been hacked. He said none of the reported threats were real.
