Russia Claims Cyberattacks Targeted Parliamentary Election Online Voting System
Russian Central Election Commission head Ella Pamfilova claimed that Moscow’s remote electronic voting system suffered a “massive and intense” cyberattack during parliamentary elections on Sept. 19. Officials reported further disruption attempts in the Far East but insisted voting continued normally.
Russian officials reported a significant cyberattack targeting the country's electronic voting system during the parliamentary elections, which took place from September 18 to 20. Head of the Central Election Commission, Ella Pamfilova, stated that the attack was "massive and intense" and persisted throughout the morning. Despite this, she affirmed that the online voting system remained functional and the election process was not disrupted.
Olga Kirillova, head of the Moscow City Election Commission, echoed Pamfilova's statement, emphasizing the ongoing nature of the cyberattacks and the swift response efforts from technical teams. The Ministry of Digital Development also confirmed an attempted disruption of communications lines in the Far East. However, there was no independent verification of these claims, nor any evidence connecting the attacks to Ukraine.
Pamfilova noted that the frequency and complexity of cyberattacks on Russia's electoral system had escalated since the 2024 presidential campaign. The three-day election encompassed polling stations established in temporarily occupied Ukrainian regions, drawing criticism from Ukrainian authorities and the international community.
Russia barred independent opposition parties and anti-war candidates from participating in the election, while permitting only pro-Kremlin parties to compete.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
