NewsUkrainian Specialists Hack Russian Voting System Amid Elections

Ukrainian Specialists Hack Russian Voting System Amid Elections

A Russian woman casts her ballot during the presidential elections in Moscow, Russia, 17 March 2024. The Federation Council has scheduled presidential elections for 17 March 2024. Voting will last three days: March 15, 16 and 17. Four candidates registered by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation are vying for the post of head of state: Leonid Slutsky, Nikolai Kharitonov, Vladislav Davankov and Vladimir Putin. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY Dostawca: PAP/EPA.
A Russian woman casts her ballot during the presidential elections in Moscow, Russia, 17 March 2024. The Federation Council has scheduled presidential elections for 17 March 2024. Voting will last three days: March 15, 16 and 17. Four candidates registered by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation are vying for the post of head of state: Leonid Slutsky, Nikolai Kharitonov, Vladislav Davankov and Vladimir Putin. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY Dostawca: PAP/EPA.
Images source: © PAP | PAP/EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

9:12 AM EDT, March 17, 2024

The Russian public services website has been knocked offline, and their voting system has been compromised. According to a report by the Ukrinform agency, citing a source within Ukrainian military intelligence, computer experts have managed to bypass all protective measures. These disruptions are expected to persist until the voting concludes.

These incidents occurred during the second day of the three-day Russian presidential elections. Vladimir Putin is participating as an "independent candidate", although he enjoys the backing of the United Russia party.

Earlier on the same day, United Russia disclosed that it was the target of a cyberattack, leading to the blockage of its websites, as reported by Reuters.

The voting system compromised

On the morning of Saturday, additional details came from Ukrinform. The outlet mentioned that Ukrainian military intelligence's computer specialists (HUR) infiltrated the Russian public services system. This system is crucial for facilitating electronic voting in the presidential election.

The Russian public services website is currently inaccessible. The voting system has been compromised. Experts from Ukrainian military intelligence have outmaneuvered all defensive protocols. This situation is expected to last throughout the voting period, according to the source.

The source at Ukrinform also noted that attacks against the electronic infrastructure of the ruling party, United Russia, are still underway.

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