Ukraine's Attacks On Data Centers Are Costing Russia Dearly

• 15.10.2026, 18:11

The attacks caused disruptions to online services, payments, and deliveries.

Ukrainian cyberattacks on Yandex and Sberbank data centers exposed vulnerabilities in Russia’s digital infrastructure. The attacks disrupted cloud services, payment systems, online stores, and apps for ordering taxis and food. At the same time, questions have arisen about the legality of the attacks on facilities used by both the military and civilians, writes Politico.

In October, Ukrainian drones attacked three Yandex data centers in Sasovo, Kaluga, and Vladimir, as well as Sberbank’s data center in the Saratov region. Two of Yandex’s sites were out of service following the strikes. Restoring the infrastructure could prove costly and take a long time due to sanctions and difficulties in procuring the necessary equipment.

Kyiv explained the attacks as a response to Russian strikes on Ukraine’s digital infrastructure. Thus, data centers are becoming part of a new front in the war, the consequences of which are felt far beyond the front lines.

However, the legal status of such facilities is ambiguous. Under international humanitarian law, a data center may be considered a military target if it makes an effective contribution to military operations and its destruction provides a definite military advantage.

Experts note that data center infrastructure often serves government, commercial, and private needs simultaneously. Therefore, the consequences of attacks could affect millions of users.