We studied the effect of cadmium on the expression of genes encoding the transcription factors CBF1 and DREB1 in leaves of cv. Moscovskaya 39 winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings in a controlled environment. In the first 5 h of cadmium impact (100 μM) on the roots of the seedlings its content in the leaves remained nearly unchanged, but after 1 day of the impact it rose sharply and continued to grow throughout the experiment (7 full days). Contrastingly, the level of CBF1 and DREB1 gene expression rose significantly after just 15 min of the cadmium impact on the seedlings, and peaked in an hour. Further on (in 5 h) DREB1 gene expression decreased somewhat, but remained elevated until the end of the experiment (7 full days). The content of CBF1 gene transcripts decreased in the 5th–48th h of the cadmium impact, and then rose again to remain at the level reached thereafter (3–7 full days). The assumption was made that CBF1/DREB1 transcription factor genes take part in nonspecific protective and adaptive responses of wheat plants to cadmium ion impact.