On 22 February 2023, at least four Russian radio stations broadcast a false air raid alert after a likely hacker attack, according to reports by independent Russian media. The alert repeated the following words: “Attention, an air raid alert has been issued. Everyone [must] go to shelters immediately. Attention, attention, [there is a] missile attack threat”. A siren was heard in the background of the alert words.
The message was reportedly broadcast to radio audiences in the Russian cities of Pyatigorsk, Tyumen, Voronezh, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Magnitogorsk, Belgorod, Stary Oskol, Ufa, Novouralsk, as well as in the suburbs of Moscow. According to Meduza, a Russian independent online outlet, at least four radio stations were hacked. These were Relax FM, Autoradio, Humor FM and Comedy Radio.
The Russian Ministry of Emergency situations confirmed the event, which it called a hacker attack on radio servers. Authorities also confirmed that the alerts were false and asked to only follow official government guidelines.