Russia reports cyberattacks on second day of vote

Russia has reported powerful cyberattacks targeting its electronic voting system in Moscow, as parliamentary elections enter their second day. The Central Election Commission's chair, Ella Pamfilova, did not disclose specifics about the attack or its perpetrators. Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested Ukraine was attempting to disrupt the voting process, a claim Ukraine has not addressed.

Ukraine has dismissed the election as farcical. Only parties backing Putin and the Kremlin's military actions have been permitted to contest, while voting is also taking place in Russian-occupied regions of eastern Ukraine. The Moscow voting system endured a relentless, continuous assault throughout the night, according to Pamfilova, quoted by Russia's state RIA news agency.

The attack is ongoing, she emphasized. The election, which will determine all 450 seats in Russia's State Duma, is scheduled to continue until Sunday evening. Despite widespread certainty that the ruling United Russia party will secure another victory, the vote serves as an indicator of public backing for the war and government.

In Moscow, voters expressed frustration over the state of the economy, with many losing their jobs and wages falling rather than rising.