Ukraine and Russia say emergency air-raid warning systems hit by cyber-hacks – Europe live

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of key events in Europe.

Ukraine and Russia have reported corresponding cyber-hacks on their app warning systems overnight.

These are the mobile apps which send alerts and air-raid warnings, alerting citizens to when missiles and drones are incoming (and thus advising residents to seek shelter or go down to a bunker).

This appears to be the first breach of the app, on such a scale, during the war so far; directly immobilising one of the most important channels of communication authorities have to help advise citizens.

In the Ukraine hack, the app started spewing out alarming fake messages late on Sunday night – warning residents of a nuclear radiation threat in the capital Kyiv, a chemical attack, street fighting and also incoming Oreshnik hypersonic missiles, which Ukraine lacks interceptors for.

Ukraine’s Air Force issued clarification within the hour on Telegram, urging people to remain calm and disregard the messages, one of which was written in Russian.

Some hours later, Russian authorities said its warning app had been hacked and had to be taken offline. A Ukrainian hacker group has claimed to have sent fake alerts warning of nuclear warheads to users inside Russia.

Amid the cyber warfare overnight, both sides also carried out strikes, targeting energy sites like oil refineries. Strikes have been reported in Zaporizhzhia and Odesa.