Zelenskyy confirms Ukraine hacked Russian emergency alert app in retaliation for cyberattack - Hromadske
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed Ukraine was behind a cyberattack on Russia's emergency alert system in retaliation for Russian cyberattacks targeting Ukrainian civilian services.
In an interview with PBS News published on November 2, Zelenskyy stated that 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.
Retaliatory Attack
When asked directly whether Ukraine had hacked Russia's emergency app in retaliation, Zelenskyy 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, though Ukraine's Air Force confirmed no such threats existed.
Yes, absolutely. We just responded on the attack.
False Alerts
The State Emergency Service later clarified that Ukraine's nationwide public warning system had not been compromised and continued operating normally. Hours after the false alerts in Ukraine, users of Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry app received false warnings about an alleged nuclear missile threat across Russia.
Unconfirmed Scope
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.
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