In brief
In its third attack this week, Ukrainian drones struck Yandex’s data centre in Vladimir, east of Moscow, forcing a halt to services and leaving several customers offline. The technology giant, often dubbed ‘Russia’s Google,’ confirmed severe damage but is working to restore connectivity. Prior strikes hit facilities in Sasovo and Kaluga, disrupting AI chatbots and smart‑home services. These assaults highlight the escalating fight over critical infrastructure amid the conflict's fifth anniversary.
Ukraine’s recent drone strikes have taken a toll on Yandex’s critical infrastructure. The latest attack on the Vladimir data centre, located east of Moscow, forced the tech giant to pause operations entirely.
Yandex, often referred to as “Russia’s Google,” confirmed that the centre sustained significant damage but reported no injuries. The company said services such as its AI chatbot and smart‑home devices were temporarily unavailable, reflecting the strategic importance of its data hubs.
Earlier this week, Yandex had announced difficulties maintaining services after strikes on Sasovo and Kaluga, two other data centres southwest of Moscow. The cumulative damage has tested the resilience of Russia’s digital backbone, raising concerns over potential outages and business disruption.
These drone attacks are part of a broader Ukrainian strategy to target places that generate revenue for Moscow’s war machine, forcing Russia to divert resources to repairs. According to Ukrainian officials, striking Yandex’s infrastructure could compel Moscow to redirect funds away from frontline operations.
The strikes come against a backdrop of escalating attacks on both sides: Russian forces have hit Ukrainian data centres, causing widespread internet outages, while Ukraine continues to target Russian military assets, including oil refineries. This new wave of cyber‑physical attacks exemplifies the war’s extension into the digital realm.
In related incidents, Russian strikes over the weekend have resulted in civilian casualties: six people were injured in attacks on the Dnipropetrovsk region, and at least 20 people, including four children, were killed in Zaporizhzhia. The ongoing conflict underlines the vulnerability of critical infrastructure and its ripple effects across civilian life.
