Russia reported persistent cyberattacks targeting its voting infrastructure and communication lines as citizens cast ballots on Saturday during the second day of a tightly controlled three-day parliamentary election. The nationwide vote, which runs through Sunday, marks the first legislative contest held since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, serving as a critical gauge of public support for President Vladimir Putin’s administration.
Cyberattacks Target Voting Infrastructure on Day Two
Moscow Platforms Face Non-Stop Digital Onslaught
Moscow’s electronic voting system faced a continuous barrage of digital assaults overnight and into Saturday, according to Ella Pamfilova, head of the Russian Central Election Commission. Pamfilova told reporters that the online platform experienced a very powerful and non-stop onslaught that targeted the capital specifically, though she confirmed the system continued operating normally without detailing who orchestrated the disruption. Separately, the Russian digital ministry reported a thwarted sabotage attempt on communication lines in the country’s Far East, stating that technicians quickly restored all affected networks, according to state media.
State Duma Contested Amid Opposition Crackdown
The three-day election decides all 450 seats in the State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament. The ruling pro-Putin United Russia party is widely expected to maintain its dominance over the political landscape. Authorities barred most anti-war candidates from the ballot prior to the opening of polls across Russia’s 11 time zones, following a Supreme Court ruling last month that disqualified the liberal Yabloko party over alleged electoral rule violations—a charge the party denies.
Drone Activity and Turnout Numbers Amid War
President Vladimir Putin asserted on Friday that Ukraine was actively attempting to hinder the democratic process, though Kyiv did not respond to the accusation. The Russian capital faced a wave of drone activity on Friday morning, with Moscow’s mayor noting more than 350 Ukrainian drones targeting the city as Kyiv seeks to make the economic and social impacts of the war felt domestically. Nationwide voter turnout reached 32.58 percent by Saturday afternoon, according to Central Election Commission data cited by state media.
Diplomatic Row Erupts Over Transnistria Polls
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that citizens are showing active participation despite physical threats and digital challenges, arguing that high turnout reflects a united response against external pressure. Meanwhile, the parliamentary contest triggered an international diplomatic dispute with neighboring Moldova over Moscow’s plans to open 15 polling stations in the breakaway pro-Russian region of Transnistria. Moldovan authorities denounced the setup as unacceptable and hostile, maintaining that Russian nationals may only vote at a single designated polling station inside the Russian embassy in Chisinau.
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