Ukrainians received a false alert on their phones warning about an imminent Russian nuclear attack and radiation.

Millions of phones across the war-torn country pinged with the message sent through Ukraine’s Air Alert system yesterday evening.

The message, written in Russian instead of Ukrainian, which is mandatory in official communications, was sent shortly before 11pm local time (9pm GMT), warning of a nuclear attack involving an Oreshnik missile.

Another message sent through the same app warned of radiation and chemical attacks.

Some residents in cities like Kyiv were also alerted about street fighting and to cover their faces with a cloth, the Telegraph reports.

The terrifying nuclear warning said: ‘Don’t worry, an Oreshnik is overhead! A nuclear alert has been activated across Ukraine.’

Russia said its emergency alert system was hit by a suspected cyber attack as well.

The Russian emergency app sent a fake message to residents saying that an attack drone mounted with a nuclear warhead had been ‘launched at all regions of Russia.’

It urged people to stock up on food for three weeks and hide as there was a ‘risk of getting lively,’ according to the BBC.

Ukrainians endured 10 minutes of uncertainty after their app was activated, before the country’s air force said that the system had been compromised by Russia.

A Telegram post said: ‘The air ​alert app appears ‌to have been subjected to enemy influence. There is ​no radiation ⁠threat! Stay calm and follow our ⁠updates on our channel!’

While residents in both countries grappled with the warnings, Russian and Ukrainian armies fired at each other, targeting energy infrastructure.

The Kstovo oil refinery was reportedly struck in Moscow, while Russian strikes targeted four energy production sites across Ukraine.

In the past, Putin’s army has deployed the nuclear-capable Oreshnik ballistic missile against Ukraine, armed with a conventional warhead.

But the hypersonic missile could be kitted as a nuclear weapon.

An Oreshnik missile could reach Britain in 11 minutes or deliver missiles to other parts of Europe.

As of December last year, the missile system is understood to have been stationed in Belarus, a Russian neighbour and ally.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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