Nov 02, Kathmandu - Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of cyberattacks targeting their emergency alert systems, raising fears of renewed military escalation after a ceasefire that ran from October 27 to November 1 ended.

Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry said a cyberattack on its mobile app sent the public false warnings about threats, including drone strikes. Earlier, Ukraine’s alert system displayed a false warning of radioactive danger. Kyiv blamed Russia for that incident, while Moscow has not publicly attributed the attack on its own system to anyone.

The ceasefire had enabled a humanitarian aid operation in Oleshky, a city under Russian control, according to Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets. But a Ukrainian military official alleged that Russian forces used the pause to deploy more troops, stockpile ammunition and gather intelligence with surveillance drones.

After the truce ended, Kherson regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin urged residents to remain alert. Russia said a Ukrainian drone had struck an industrial facility, while Ukrainian media reported that the Kostovo oil refinery was targeted.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said attacks on Russian oil refineries would stop only if Russia halted its strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Russian attacks have caused power cuts in several parts of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, efforts are underway to resume Russia–Ukraine talks this month, following a pause in negotiations mediated by the United States.