Zelenskyy confirms Ukraine hacked Russian emergency alert app in retaliation for cyberattack
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine was behind a cyberattack on Russia's emergency alert system after hackers targeted a widely used Ukrainian air raid warning app.
In an interview with PBS News published on November 2, Zelenskyy said Russia had carried out numerous cyberattacks against Ukrainian civilian services, including banking, pensions and social assistance systems.
"They attacked our system," Zelenskyy said, describing the incident as part of Russia's efforts to create chaos in Ukrainian cities.
Asked directly whether Ukraine had hacked Russia's emergency app in retaliation, he replied: "Yes, absolutely. We just responded on the attack."
On November 1, Ukraine's Air Alert app began sending false notifications warning of nuclear and chemical threats and street fighting. Ukraine's Air Force said no such threats existed.
The State Emergency Service later said the country's nationwide public warning system had not been compromised and continued operating normally.
Hours later, users of Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry app received false alerts warning of an alleged nuclear missile threat across the country.
Zelenskyy did not specify whether Ukraine's retaliatory cyberattack was limited to the Russian emergency app.
Neither the full scope of the intrusion nor its effects on Russia's emergency warning infrastructure have been independently established.