Ukraine’s Air Force said its Air Alert app was compromised on Sunday after displaying false warnings about nuclear and chemical incidents in Kyiv and other areas. The app also reportedly issued alerts about street fighting.
The Air Force said unauthorized individuals had interfered with the app and that push notifications were temporarily disabled. It urged residents to remain calm, stating that there was no radiation threat and directing the public to follow official messages on Telegram.
About two hours later, Russia’s Ministry for Emergency Situations said its mobile app had been hit by what it described as a massive cyberattack. The ministry said the incident allowed attackers to send false information to the public.
It was not immediately clear whether the incidents were connected. The alleged attacks occurred as Russia and Ukraine continued exchanging strikes against territory and infrastructure.
A local ceasefire in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky and nearby areas of Ukraine’s Kherson region expired overnight. The pause allowed humanitarian aid to reach the city and enabled the evacuation of hundreds of people who had been left with limited access to food, water, electricity and medicine. The ceasefire was described as the longest local pause in fighting since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in early 2022, and both sides appeared to observe it until midnight Moscow time.
On Monday, local media reported that Russian forces had struck a hospital in central Kherson. Ukraine’s General Staff said Russian forces had used the ceasefire to reinforce their positions, rotate units, expand anti-drone measures and increase logistical activity, including ammunition deliveries.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that October had been Russia’s deadliest month since the invasion began. He claimed that 54,400 Russian troops had been killed or badly wounded during the month and said Ukraine’s forces had liberated 96.2 square kilometers of territory, 10.4 square kilometers more than Russia captured over the same period.
Sources: CNBC Markets.