Just two days ahead of Poland’s presidential election, the ruling Civic Platform party’s websites came under cyberattack, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk attributing the attack to a group of Russian hackers. The incident, which reportedly also targeted the websites of opposition parties The Left and the Polish People’s Party (PSL), occurred late Friday and remains under investigation.
Tusk announced the breach via social media platform X, stating that “services are conducting intensive activities in this case,” and confirmed that the attack was still ongoing as of Friday evening.
Tensions rise as campaign blackout begins
The cyberattack occurred just hours before Poland’s mandatory campaign blackout period began ahead of Sunday’s election. The timing raises concerns about potential disruption to party communication channels and digital campaign infrastructure during a critical phase of the electoral process.
Also read: Britain Urges Firms to Prioritize Cybersecurity After Attacks
Jan Grabiec, head of Tusk’s chancellery, initially disclosed the incident earlier in the day but did not attribute responsibility at that time. The Russian embassy in Warsaw declined to comment on the matter.
This is not the first time Civic Platform has faced cybersecurity threats. In April, the party’s IT systems were also targeted, though details of that attack remain limited.
Broader concerns over election security in Europe
The incident in Poland adds to growing anxiety across Europe regarding cyber-enabled interference in democratic processes. In December, Romania was forced to cancel its presidential election mid-process due to allegations of Russian interference — allegations that Moscow has denied.
Sunday’s election sees Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, a leading figure in Civic Platform, running against Karol Nawrocki, head of the Institute of National Remembrance, and far-right candidate Slawomir Mentzen.
With the attack still underway, Polish authorities are under pressure to ensure digital security while safeguarding the legitimacy of the electoral process amid fears of foreign influence operations.
