Zelensky says Kyiv behind Russia alert hack but claims Kremlin targeted Ukraine first

Zelensky says Kyiv behind Russia alert hack but claims Kremlin targeted Ukraine first Kremlin attacks on Ukraine get dirtier with hacks on Ukraine's mobile alert app which helps endangered civilians take cover - so Ukraine struck back against Russia, admits Zelensky Ukraine did hack Russia’s mobile alert apps warning of imminent attack - but only in response to Russia sending nuclear and chemical alerts across the country. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine was merely responding to an earlier hack into its alert apps by Russia as he stepped up assaults on Moscow’s oil industry. Overnight Ukraine hit one of Russia’s largest oil refineries, the Novo-Yaroslavl Oil Complex, setting off major blazes and smashing infrastructure. President Zelensky said of the cyber-hack: “I underlined it several times that we only respond to their attacks. “After the attack, when it was very clear to all our people and for all our personnel, and the intelligence, that it's [a personal attack against our people, civilians, of course, we responded." On Nov 1 Ukraine's Air Alert App, which provides vital updates to citizens about incoming Russian strikes, was hacked with false warnings of nuclear, chemical, and street-fighting threats. It said: "Hi! A nuclear alert is about to go off all across Ukraine!” Hours after the false warnings were sent to Ukrainian citizens' phones, Russia's own air raid alert system was compromised. Messages were sent to users claiming "nuclear warheads" had been "launched across all regions of Russia," and that users should "stock up with food for three weeks" and hide in their basements. Ukraine’s latest attacks on Russia’s energy supplies follows a general pause in its campaign. The halt in attacks, ordered by Donald Trump, gave way to Russia to step up attacks on Ukraine civilians including killing 26 at a school 24 hours ago in Zaporizhzhia. Russia followed that attack up by hitting Ukraine overnight with major missile and drone attack against Ukraine, striking energy infrastructure, residential buildings and medical facilities. It left dozens of people injured and explosions were reported in Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zhytomyr and other cities. Kharkiv was among the hardest-hit cities where a Russian strike damaged a medical facility in the city’s Nemyshlianskyi district. The pause in Ukraine’s attacks on Russia’s oil industry followed mounting pressure from US President Donald Trump, who urged President Volodymyr Zelensky to stop targeting Russian refineries and diesel production facilities. On Oct. 10, Trump publicly called on Kyiv to halt the attacks and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner also reportedly pressed Ukraine to suspend the strikes, warning that continued attacks could jeopardize intelligence sharing. The Novo-Yaroslavl complex is one of Russia’s largest oil refineries, processing 15 million metric tons of crude oil annually and supplies fuel to Moscow and other regions across Russia’s Central and Northwestern federal districts. Its customers include airports and facilities linked to Russia’s military-industrial complex.