Russia Reports Cyberattacks During Parliamentary Elections

2026, September 19

Russia

Russian authorities said cyberattacks targeted online voting systems and communications networks during the second day of the country’s parliamentary elections, held from 18 to 20 September. Officials in Moscow said an attack on the electronic voting system had been repelled, while another attempted disruption reportedly affected communications in Russia’s Far East.

The election is the first parliamentary vote since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Independent and anti-war candidates have faced significant restrictions, and President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of trying to disrupt the vote, although Reuters reported that no evidence was presented publicly to support the claim.