On the opening day of Russia’s presidential election, Rostelecom’s information security chief and the head of Rostelecom-Solar reported a dramatic surge in cyber activity targeting the remote electronic voting system, known as the DEG, as well as the State Services and Central Election Commission portals. The official noted that the volume of attacks on March 15 was eight times higher than the level observed in the previous election cycle.
During the first day of voting, authorities confirmed that more than 90,000 cyber incursions were aimed at critical digital infrastructure, including the DEG and related government portals. Defensive measures successfully repelled each attempt, ensuring the integrity of the election start. The leadership emphasized that attacks originated from various geographic regions, underscoring the global nature of the threat landscape surrounding the electoral process.
Officials described activity from a wide array of sources, including international IP addresses from Ukraine, Western Europe, and North America. The security teams observed a high level of sophistication in the assaults, suggesting the involvement of well-funded and skilled threat actors. These observations were shared as part of ongoing risk assessments conducted to safeguard electronic voting systems and public sector portals.
In addressing an initial, brief disruption in the DEG during the early hours of March 15, the head of the DEG operation at Rostelecom clarified that the hiccup resulted from a heavy load on the system. As the sites opened in alignment with Moscow time, millions of users attempted to access the resources simultaneously, causing a temporary slowdown.
Additional commentary from EdgeCenter and the ROCIT Cloud Technologies Commission highlighted the broader security challenge. The executives pointed out that hostile states may assemble private cyber units to press attack campaigns on Russia. They explained that cyber pressure does not depend on whether the infrastructure is hosted domestically or abroad; the intent is to generate an overwhelming load that disrupts operations or even halts them outright.
Officials reminded readers that the presidential election in Russia was scheduled to run from March 15 to March 17, underscoring the importance of resilient digital infrastructure throughout the voting period. The security community continues to monitor activity across all relevant platforms, sharing insights within the context of ongoing defense and recovery planning. This ongoing effort remains essential for maintaining trust in the electoral process and ensuring that citizens can participate with confidence.
All statements cited reflect the coordination among Rostelecom’s security leadership, DEG operators, and independent technology governance bodies. The aim is to provide a clear picture of the evolving threat environment while outlining the operational steps taken to sustain service availability and data integrity during a high-stakes national event. [Source attribution: Rostelecom press materials and industry remarks]