# Alleged Cyber Breach Targets Russian Election Systems Ahead of Parliamentary Vote

*Published September 18, 2026*
*Source: [https://therecord.media/russia-election-hackers-breach](https://therecord.media/russia-election-hackers-breach)*

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## Article

An anonymous hacking group known as CikLeak has claimed responsibility for a cyber intrusion into systems linked to Russia's election infrastructure, occurring just before the parliamentary elections. The group reportedly accessed systems associated with Russia's Central Election Commission and contractors involved with Vybory, the platform used to manage elections. Stolen data allegedly includes sensitive documents, server configurations, passwords, and employee communications, which were subsequently shared with Important Stories, a Russian investigative outlet that has verified the documents. However, the extent of the breach remains unclear, particularly regarding its impact on voting or ballot counting processes. CikLeak stated their intention was not to disrupt the elections but to reveal how the electoral system operates internally and highlight potential manipulation avenues. They encouraged Russian citizens to vote in person to reduce the risk of electoral manipulation. The elections will use the new Vybory 2.0 platform, marking its debut in a federal election following previous versions used since the late 1990s. Russia’s Central Election Commission had previously warned of increasing cyber threats. In preparation, officials tested the security of the Vybory portal and other systems, identifying vulnerabilities in video surveillance. As cyber threats intensify, election security remains a critical concern, especially after previous attacks during Russia's presidential election in March 2024.