Russia reports ‘powerful’ cyberattacks on second day of parliamentary vote

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Published: 2026-09-19T15:45:37.448Z • Permanent link

Russia's state-run news agency TASS reported on September 13 that the country had suffered powerful cyberattacks on the second day of parliamentary vote, citing unnamed sources. The attacks were allegedly launched by "foreign special services" targeting the Central Election Commission, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and other government institutions.

Moscow's parliament, known as the State Duma, began voting on constitutional amendments on September 13, with President Vladimir Putin's proposed changes expected to dominate the agenda. Russia's electoral commission, however, faced disruptions, including a temporary halt in vote counting in the city of Voronezh, where the commission reported a technical issue with the voting system.

Ukrainian cybersecurity experts warned that the attacks may be linked to a larger effort to disrupt Russia's democratic processes, particularly amid heightened tensions with Ukraine. The attacks have also raised concerns about the vulnerability of Russia's electoral infrastructure, which some experts describe as being in dire need of modernization.

The impact of the cyberattacks on Russia's parliamentary vote is significant, as it could undermine the legitimacy of the electoral process and raise questions about the government's ability to maintain order. Companies involved in the provision of electoral services, such as vote counting and tabulation, may face reputational damage if their systems are found to be vulnerable to attack.

In addition, the cyberattacks could have broader implications for the global financial markets, which have been closely watching Russia's economic situation in light of international sanctions. The disruption of Russia's electoral process could exacerbate economic tensions, particularly if the attacks are seen as an attempt to influence the outcome of the vote.

Russia's experience with cyberattacks is not unique, and the country has faced numerous incidents in recent years. In 2014, Russian hackers were accused of stealing sensitive data from the Democratic National Committee, a move that was widely seen as an attempt to disrupt the US presidential election. More recently, in 2022, Russia was accused of launching a major cyberattack on the Ukrainian power grid, which resulted in widespread blackouts.