Zelensky: Hack of Russian Alert System Was a Response to a Russian Cyberattack

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that a hacker attack on Russia's warning system was Ukraine's response to a Russian cyberattack on Ukraine's air raid alert system. He made the remarks on Monday to the US television network PBS. Apps in both countries were hacked during Russia's war against Ukraine, and their users received false alerts.

Zelensky's explanation

"We only respond to their attacks," Zelensky said in the interview. He noted that Russia attacked Ukraine's system, calling it a cyberattack, and said Ukraine, as he put it, naturally defended itself.

The president also reminded viewers that Russia repeatedly carries out cyberattacks intended to harm civilians. As examples, he named attacks on Ukrainian banks and the pension system.

What happened to the apps

On Sunday evening, the Ukrainian alert app "Air Alert" was hacked. Users received false warnings on their smartphones, including ones about possible nuclear attacks.

A few hours later, on Monday morning, the app of Russia's civil defence agency was also hacked. It too sent out false warnings.

The source does not say who carried out the attacks and gives no further details about their impact.