World
Russia reports mass cyberattacks targeting elections
"Over the past period, more than 1,000 waves of DDoS attacks have been recorded against infrastructure in Russia that is specifically involved in the electoral process," Pamfilova was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.
A man casts his ballot for Russia's parliamentary election at a polling station in Moscow on September 20, 2026. (AFP Photo)
By: AFP ., Journalist @New Vision
MOSCOW — Russia's electoral chief said Sunday that there had been over 1,000 waves of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks targeting Russian election infrastructure in recent days.
Ella Pamfilova, chair of Russia's Central Election Commission, did not say who was responsible.
The attacks appeared to have been carried out by "highly professional, well-coordinated groups using artificial intelligence tools," she said.
DDoS attacks involve overwhelming a system with internet traffic so that it is unable to function normally.
DDoS attacks involve overwhelming a system with internet traffic so that it is unable to function normally.
Members of a local electoral commission count votes in Russia's parliamentary election in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine, on September 20, 2026, amid the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict. (AFP Photo)
"Over the past period, more than 1,000 waves of DDoS attacks have been recorded against infrastructure in Russia that is specifically involved in the electoral process," Pamfilova was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.
Voting is currently underway in Russia to determine all 450 seats in the lower house, the State Duma.
The ruling United Russia party, which backs President Vladimir Putin and has won every parliamentary election in Russia since 2003, is widely expected to secure another victory.
All other parties cleared to run back Putin and the Ukraine offensive, while Russia's Supreme Court struck the anti-war Yabloko party off the ballot weeks before the vote.
Voting is currently underway in Russia to determine all 450 seats in the lower house, the State Duma.
The ruling United Russia party, which backs President Vladimir Putin and has won every parliamentary election in Russia since 2003, is widely expected to secure another victory.
All other parties cleared to run back Putin and the Ukraine offensive, while Russia's Supreme Court struck the anti-war Yabloko party off the ballot weeks before the vote.