Russia reports cyberattacks on online voting systems during parliamentary elections

Voting systems and communications lines in Russia were targeted by cyberattacks on the second day of parliamentary elections. According to Russian authorities, Moscow’s online voting system came under a major attack late Friday night.

Central Election Commission Chair Ella Pamfilova told state media that although the attacks were continuing, they were being successfully repelled. Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development also reported an attempted act of sabotage against communications lines in the country’s Far East. The attempt was thwarted and communications were restored, according to the ministry.

The elections, held from Sept. 18 to 20, are the first vote for the State Duma since Russia launched its full-scale war against Ukraine in February 2022. Moscow views the elections as an indicator of public attitudes toward the war.

The ruling United Russia party is expected to retain its dominance in Russia’s tightly controlled political system. Most candidates opposing the war were removed from the ballot before voting began.

Last month, Russia’s Supreme Court ruled that the liberal Yabloko party, which supports a ceasefire in Ukraine, had violated election rules. The party rejected the allegation. Some Yabloko candidates continue to compete in single-mandate constituencies, which account for half of the 450 seats in the State Duma. The party traditionally receives support in the single digits.

Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of attempting to interfere in the elections but provided no evidence. According to data from the Central Election Commission cited by state media, nationwide voter turnout stood at 32.58 percent as of 2 p.m. local time on Saturday.

The elections have also triggered a diplomatic dispute between Russia and Moldova over the organization of voting in the Transnistria region. Chisinau has protested Moscow’s plan to open 15 polling stations for Russian citizens in the separatist, pro-Russian region.

Moscow says 220,000 residents of Transnistria hold Russian passports and are entitled to vote. The territory broke away from Moldova in 1990, during the final years of Soviet rule.