The Attacks On Yandex Have Shown Just How Vulnerable The Russian Internet Is
- 18.10.2026, 15:06
Secrecy played a cruel trick on the Kremlin.
Ukrainian long-range drones damaged three of the five largest Yandex data centers, causing disruptions to banking apps, taxi services, and other digital services. The attacks affected tens of thousands of companies in Russia and users in at least eight countries, and restoring the infrastructure could take several months. The attacks also exposed the vulnerability of Russia’s digital system, which is concentrated around a small number of large data centers, writes Atlantic Council.
In early October, Ukrainian drones attacked three of the five main data centers of Yandex—Russia’s largest technology company, often referred to as the “Russian Google.” All three facilities sustained serious damage.
As early as October 11, Russian users of Yandex’s banking services encountered problems logging into the app and accessing their money. The company’s head of financial services acknowledged the issues, writing on social media: “I understand that you’re not waiting for words, but for access to your money.” He did not specify a timeline for full restoration.
The outages also affected other company services, including taxi services. According to the Atlantic Council, more than 60,000 Russian organizations and institutions use the online infrastructure of Yandex and its affiliated companies. These include food delivery services, online stores, smart home management systems, and municipal agencies.
The problems extended beyond Russia’s borders. Yandex services stopped functioning normally in at least eight countries, including Central Asian states and Serbia.
The company’s representative office in Uzbekistan reported a major outage, and Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development has stepped in to help restore service. Although services were partially restored in many countries, the disruptions have damaged Russia’s reputation as a technological partner in the region.
Reports of a decline in pro-Russian bot activity on social media drew particular attention. At the Warsaw Security Forum, the President of Ukraine stated that following the attacks on data centers, there has been less hate and fewer provocations online.
“Many have noticed this. There is less hate, less division, and fewer provocations because there are fewer bots,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The reasons for the vulnerability of Russia’s infrastructure are linked, in part, to government policy. Since 2015, Russian law has required that citizens’ personal data be stored within the country. Other measures aimed at creating a so-called “sovereign internet” have contributed to the concentration of digital resources in large data centers, which have now become attractive targets for Ukrainian drones.
Restoring damaged facilities is complicated by the need to procure equipment on the international market, where demand exceeds supply. Sanctions that restrict access to certain components could pose an additional obstacle.
Attacks on digital infrastructure are taking on an international character. Iran has also carried out strikes against technology facilities and data centers in Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain. The Ukrainian campaign demonstrated that damaging several major digital hubs can disrupt the operations of banks, transportation, and commercial services far beyond the attacked facilities themselves.