Moscow
Russian authorities reported attacks targeting voting infrastructure and communication networks on Saturday, as the country entered the second day of a three-day parliamentary election being held from September 18 to 20.
The Moscow online voting system was subjected to what Central Election Commission chief Ella Pamfilova described as a powerful and sustained cyberattack overnight. According to Interfax, Pamfilova said the attack continued but that Russia’s technical teams were successfully repelling attempts to disrupt the system.
She said Moscow’s remote electronic voting platform continued operating normally despite the intensity of the attack. Russian election officials have repeatedly said their systems were prepared to withstand cyber threats during the election period.
Separately, Russia’s digital ministry reported a sabotage attempt targeting communication lines in the country’s Far East. State media said the attempt was thwarted and communications were subsequently restored.
The reports came as millions of Russians voted in the parliamentary election, which is also being held alongside regional and local elections across the country. The 450-seat State Duma is being elected during the three-day voting period.
President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of attempting to interfere in the election, although Russian authorities have not publicly provided evidence linking Kyiv to the reported attacks.
The election is closely watched because it is the first parliamentary vote since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Reuters reported that the political environment remains tightly controlled, with many anti-war candidates excluded from participating.
Authorities have presented the election as a demonstration of political stability and public support for the Kremlin’s policies, while the cyber incidents have added another security concern to the voting process.
