Russian strikes hit Ukrainian data centers, cutting internet for thousands
Russian drone and other attacks have damaged data centers and network infrastructure in Ukraine, including a facility in Kyiv that was hit and left four people dead. About 100,000 households lost internet access, and some companies are moving data abroad. Ukrainian officials say the strikes disrupt civilian life and emergency alerts, while Russia claims the targeted site served military intelligence.
The strike in Kyiv's central commercial district killed four people and damaged a data center. Moscow said the facility was tied to Ukrainian military intelligence and named other telecom and data sites it considers targets, including those linked to New-Telco, United DC, Kyivstar, and Parkovyi.
Roughly 100,000 households lost connectivity, prompting some firms to move data overseas. A Ukrainian official noted the network is decentralized, though local outages remain likely. Data centers have become wartime targets; earlier attacks in the Middle East hit commercial cloud facilities and nearby tech offices.
The loss of connectivity may affect residents, students, remote workers, and emergency alert systems, potentially slowing access to warnings and essential services. Businesses could face disruption and may accelerate moving data abroad, which might weaken local digital resilience over time. Because data centers underpin daily online activity, repeated strikes could make connectivity less reliable and raise costs, though Ukraine's decentralized network may limit nationwide outages.