Russia Reports Cyberattacks On Voting Systems On Second Day Of Parliamentary Election

Russia reported attacks on its voting systems and communication networks on Saturday, the second day of its September 18 to 20 parliamentary election, as authorities said they were successfully repelling attempts to disrupt the vote.

The State Duma election is the first since Russia launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The vote is being closely watched as a measure of public support for the government and its war policy. The ruling United Russia party, which backs President Vladimir Putin, is widely expected to retain its dominance in Russia’s tightly controlled political system.

Most anti-war candidates were excluded from the ballot before voting began across Russia’s 11 time zones. The Supreme Court last month ruled that the liberal Yabloko party, which supports a ceasefire in Ukraine, had violated electoral rules. Yabloko denied the allegations.

Some Yabloko candidates are still contesting single member constituencies, which account for half of the 450 seats in the State Duma. The party has traditionally secured support in the single digits.

On Saturday, authorities said Moscow’s online voting system came under a major attack overnight but remained operational. Central Election Commission Chairwoman Ella Pamfilova said the attacks were continuing, according to state media, but authorities were successfully repelling them.

Russia’s Digital Ministry also reported an attempted sabotage of communication lines in the country’s Far East. Authorities said the attack was thwarted and communications were restored.

President Vladimir Putin had earlier accused Ukraine of attempting to interfere with the election, although he did not provide evidence for the claim.

According to Central Election Commission data cited by state media, nationwide turnout stood at 32.58% as of 1400 local time on Saturday.

The election has also triggered a diplomatic dispute with Moldova over voting arrangements in the separatist, pro Russian region of Transdniestria. Moscow plans to open 15 polling stations there for Russian citizens, while Chisinau has objected.

Russia says the region’s roughly 220,000 residents, many of whom hold Russian passports, are entitled to vote. Transdniestria broke away from Moldova in 1990 as the Soviet Union was collapsing.