Since mid-September 2026, Russian troops have intensified strikes against Ukrainian data centers and critical telecommunications infrastructure. According to analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), this diversification of Russia's strike campaign aims to undermine Ukraine's economy and digital ecosystem, which millions of civilians and businesses rely on daily.
Diversification of Strikes and Kremlin's New Targets
Analysts note that the Kremlin is intensifying strikes and shifting its list of priority targets in search of alternative mechanisms for victory. This comes as Russian offensive operations in 2026 have failed to achieve their stated strategic objectives, while Ukrainian defense forces achieve operationally and strategically significant successes at the front. Previously, strikes targeted port, railway, and logistics infrastructure, but the focus has now shifted to the digital sphere.
Attacks have already affected Kyiv, damaging data centers belonging to companies such as Cosmonova and Datagroup. Despite damage to the premises, critical customer data was preserved thanks to geographic redundancy, and services continued operating from backup sites. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced additional measures to strengthen the protection of data centers and communications infrastructure following the series of attacks.
Contradictory Data
While the Russian Ministry of Defense openly confirms the strikes on data centers, claiming their goal is to disrupt information transmission within Ukraine's defense forces, Ukrainian state agencies have found no evidence of damage to UAF communications systems or government institutions. Internet service providers also indicate that although the shelling causes temporary internet outages in the capital, a complete network blackout is unlikely.
Economic Consequences and Government Response
Experts warn that targeted attacks on the telecommunication network could lead to an increase in internet costs for local users, as providers will need to finance repairs of damaged infrastructure. Nevertheless, Ukrainian authorities are utilizing all necessary mechanisms to guarantee the continuous operation of critical digital infrastructure amid ongoing shelling.
