Russia reports online attacks on electoral system on second day of parliamentary vote

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   Russia Reports Attacks on Electoral System Amid Parliamentary Voting

   Russia reported powerful online attacks on its electoral system during the second day of a three-day parliamentary vote taking place amid the intensifying war in Ukraine. The balloting marks the first parliamentary election since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago. Voting includes residents in four Ukrainian regions illegally annexed by Moscow and not fully controlled, alongside Crimea. Kyiv and President Vladimir Putin traded accusations of interference, while the Kremlin excluded a political party calling for peace and barred independent European observers.

   Why it matters

   The parliamentary vote proceeds under tight Kremlin control with dominance all but assured and genuine dissent largely barred. The election unfolds against the backdrop of ongoing cross-border strikes and hybrid warfare concerns across Europe. Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed Ukraine interfered directly in the electoral process as infrastructure faced coordinated cyber threats.

   What is confirmed

   • Russia reported powerful online attacks targeting its electoral system during the second day of parliamentary voting.
   • The vote is the first parliamentary election in Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago.
   • Voting takes place in areas seized from Ukraine, including four illegally annexed regions that Moscow does not fully control.
   • Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Ukraine interfered in the Russian parliamentary election.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Ukrainian drone strikes and cross-border attacks hit Russian territory during the voting period.

   What to watch next

   • Official final election results released by Russian authorities
   • Further details regarding the scale and origin of the reported cyber attacks on electoral infrastructure
   • Kremlin responses to the reported drone strikes and security breaches
   Sources used for this update (16)

   1. CNN — Empty podiums, prizes for e-voting, no opposition: Russians head to the polls amid intensifying war in Ukraine
   2. Sky News — Ukraine war latest: Russia targeted France with hybrid attacks, Macron says - as he warns of changing threat
   3. Reuters — Putin says Ukraine interfering in Russian parliamentary election
   4. NPR — Russia holds parliamentary vote in areas it seized from Ukraine in the war
   5. The New York Times — The Kremlin Has Put Lots of Veterans on the Ballot. Could It Backfire?
   6. Reuters — Russia reports online attacks on electoral system on second day of parliamentary vote
   7. The Independent — Ukraine-Russia war latest: Russia claims election voting system hit by cyber attack after repelling drone strike
   8. Al Jazeera — Russia reports ‘powerful’ cyberattacks on second day of parliamentary vote
   9. The Washington Post — In Russia, the election result is easy to guess. Much else there is uncertain.
   10. theguardian.com — Ukraine war briefing: Kyiv denounces Russia’s inclusion of annexed regions in parliamentary elections
   11. Al Jazeera — Russia’s elections are more than political theatre
   12. France 24 — Live: Russian election enters final day in shadow of war in Ukraine
   confidence 95%