- Authorities Warn of Inaccurate Threat Notifications as Kyiv Urges Public to Follow Official Updates
- A separate app specific to alerts in the capital, Kyiv, remains operational and has not been affected
KYIV, Ukraine: Ukraine’s Air Force has reported a suspected cyberattack on the country’s nationwide air raid alert application, warning residents that notifications about potential threats may not accurately reflect the security situation.
In a public statement on Sunday, the Air Force said the Air Alarm application had probably been subjected to hostile interference. It urged citizens to remain calm, clarified that there was no radiation threat, and advised users to follow official updates through its communication channels.
Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ignat confirmed to Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the application had been hacked.
The warning came just minutes after the expiration of a localized ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv in Ukraine’s eastern Kherson region. The truce, which began on Tuesday, was described in the report as the longest ceasefire of the war.
Authorities Warn of Unreliable Alerts
Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation also cautioned that the threat-level information displayed by the application did not correspond to the actual security situation.
The Air Alarm application plays a critical role in Ukraine’s civil defence system, providing real-time warnings of potential Russian air strikes and enabling residents to seek shelter. In the event of a ballistic missile attack, civilians may have only minutes to reach a safe location, making the reliability of the alert system particularly important.
Kyiv’s Separate Alert Application Remains Operational
SPRAVDI, Ukraine’s Center for Strategic Communications, attributed the suspected cyberattack to Russia in a post on its X account.
Meanwhile, Kyiv city authorities reported that a separate application dedicated specifically to air raid alerts in the capital continued to operate normally.
The incident has raised renewed concerns about the vulnerability of digital infrastructure supporting civilian safety during wartime. Authorities have urged residents to rely on verified official communications while the disruption is addressed.
BY: The Times Union
