Key facts
- Russia reported cyberattacks on its electoral system during a three-day parliamentary election.
- The online voting system in Moscow faced a major cyberattack overnight.
- Russia's Digital Ministry reported a thwarted sabotage attempt on communications infrastructure in the Far East.
- President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of attempting to interfere with the election.
Russian authorities claimed on September 19 that electronic voting systems and communications infrastructure had come under attack as the country entered the second day of its three-day parliamentary election. Voting for the 450-seat State Duma began on September 18 and runs through September 20. Ella Pamfilova, head of Russia's Central Election Commission, said Moscow's online voting system had faced a major cyberattack overnight but that attempts to disrupt it were being repelled. Russia's Digital Ministry separately reported an attempted act of sabotage against communications infrastructure in the country's Far East, which officials said had been stopped with communications restored without disrupting voting. President Vladimir Putin had earlier accused Ukraine of attempting to interfere with the election, without providing evidence. The reported attacks could not be independently verified.