Russia and Ukraine say emergency alert apps hit by cyberattacks
Both countries reported false warnings on their emergency apps, but it remains unclear whether the incidents were linked.
Emergency alert apps in Russia and Ukraine were hit by cyber incidents on Monday that sent false warnings to users, Turkey's state-run news agency Anadolu Agency reported.
Ukraine's Air Force said its Air Alert app had likely been targeted by "hostile interference" after misleading warnings appeared on it.
The air force told residents there was no radiation threat and urged them to stay calm and follow official updates on Telegram.
Ukraine's Center for Strategic Communications later blamed Russia, pointing to unusual messages, including one in Russian that mentioned the Oreshnik missile.
Hours later, Russia's Emergencies Ministry said its own mobile app had suffered a large-scale cyberattack that let attackers pass false information to the public.
The ministry said Russia's wider warning network was working normally and had not been breached.
Citizens were still receiving alerts through sirens, loudspeakers, text messages and radio and television broadcasts, the ministry said.
It described the app as an additional information service and said specialists were working to restore its normal operation, adding that the situation was under control.
Moscow did not say who it believed was responsible for the attack.
It was not immediately clear whether the incidents affecting the Russian and Ukrainian apps were connected.
Both countries have relied on sirens and mobile alerts to warn civilians of air attacks since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.