Ukraine’s Air Force said the country’s Air Alert app was likely subjected to hostile interference on Sunday, 1 November, after users received false warnings about radiation, chemical hazards and street fighting in Kyiv and other areas.
“There is no radiation threat,” the Air Force said, urging people to remain calm and follow updates through its official channels. The Kyiv Independent reported that its journalists received notifications through the app, including false alerts about nuclear and chemical dangers.
Warnings also appeared in other parts of Ukraine. BNO News reported alerts for nuclear and chemical hazards and street fighting in Kharkiv, and warnings of street fighting and artillery fire in Zaporizhzhia. The Kyiv Independent said sirens sounded in several areas, including Zakarpattia; BNO News noted that reports of siren activations had emerged but their extent was unclear.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said the nationwide alert system was operating normally and advised residents to rely on official announcements and street loudspeaker signals, UNN reported. Regional officials also warned people not to follow links in suspicious messages, according to the Kyiv Independent.
The cause of the incident and the identity of whoever may have interfered with the app have not been established in the available reports. Officials have not provided technical details about how the false notifications were sent.
What residents were advised to do
Authorities urged people to check for genuine danger alerts through official government and military channels, and not to click third-party links or share unverified messages. The false app warnings did not indicate a real radiation threat, the Air Force said.
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