Russia’s electoral infrastructure has been subjected to more than 1,000 waves of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks in recent days, according to the head of the country's election commission. Ella Pamfilova, chair of the Central Election Commission, stated on Sunday that these incidents appear to be the work of highly professional, well-coordinated groups that are utilizing artificial intelligence tools to overwhelm systems with internet traffic, rendering them unable to function normally.
The cyberattacks are occurring as citizens cast their ballots to determine the composition of the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament. All 450 seats are being contested in the current vote. The ruling United Russia party, which has secured victory in every parliamentary election since 2003 and maintains strong support for President Vladimir Putin, is widely expected to win again.
In the lead-up to the election, President Putin addressed the nation, framing the vote as a vital demonstration of support for Russian troops currently fighting in Ukraine. He stated that the choice made by voters would prove that millions of people stand behind the soldiers and that the nation is united by shared values, historical memory, and love for the homeland. Putin further asserted that no external force would succeed in dividing or intimidating the Russian people.
President Putin also accused Ukraine of attempting to interfere in the electoral process. He cited a reported strike on the home of an election official in the Russian-occupied portion of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region as evidence of this interference. Election officials expect that initial results will begin to emerge around 1800 GMT on Sunday, with more complete results anticipated on Monday.
