Moscow’s electronic voting system experienced significant cyber attacks during the ongoing parliamentary elections, Russian officials reported on the second day of the vote. Ella Pamfilova, chair of Russia’s Central Election Commission, described the assault on the electronic system as “powerful” and continuous throughout the night, without providing specific details about the nature of the attack or identifying those responsible.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attributed the disruption to Ukraine, accusing the Ukrainian government of attempting to interfere with the electoral process. Kyiv has not issued a response to these allegations but has previously dismissed the elections as a farce. The vote is marked by the exclusion of opposition parties critical of the Kremlin, allowing only those loyal to Putin and his military campaign to participate. Additionally, voting is taking place in territories of eastern Ukraine currently under Russian occupation.

The parliamentary elections are set to determine all 450 seats in Russia’s lower house, the State Duma. Although the ruling United Russia party is widely expected to maintain its dominance, the election results are seen as an indicator of public sentiment toward the government and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Amid the election, some Moscow residents expressed dissatisfaction with the current economic conditions. A 30-year-old voter named Diana reported concerns about job losses and declining wages, reflecting broader economic challenges facing Russians.

The voting process continues under heightened scrutiny, with cyber threats adding to the tensions surrounding an election closely monitored both domestically and internationally.