Why Russia's latest cyberattack on Ukraine is a desperate attempt to sow panic

Millions of Ukrainians received an emergency alert Sunday night about an imminent radiation or chemical threat and fighting in Kyiv—an alarm that authorities later said was likely caused by a hack attributed to Russia. Shortly afterward, Russia told its own citizens that Ukraine had hacked Russian systems to warn of imminent nuclear strikes. Neither side claimed responsibility, and the origin and method remain unclear. Ukraine’s security service (SBU) said more than 16,000 Russian cyberattacks and “critical cyber incidents” were neutralized between February 2022 and July this year, including a three-hour DDoS against a nationwide TV channel. Research cited by the report ranks Russia as the top cybercriminal hotspot globally, with Ukraine second.