Russian strikes hit Kyiv data centers, disrupting internet for 100,000 households
Moscow escalates attacks on Ukrainian internet infrastructure, claiming civilian facilities support military operations.
Part of a larger narrative
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What to know
- Russian forces struck multiple data centers and internet service providers in Kyiv on September 22-23, disrupting service for approximately 100,000 households across Kyiv and surrounding oblasts.
- Moscow claimed it targeted facilities supporting Ukraine's military, but Ukraine's Foreign Minister rejected this characterization, stating the infrastructure is essential for civilian air raid warnings and emergency communications.
- The attacks represent an escalation in Russia's strategy to target Ukraine's digital infrastructure systematically, with damage extending beyond Kyiv to Vinnytsia and Khmelnytskyi regions.
- Despite significant damage to individual providers, experts assess that completely knocking out internet access across Ukraine would be extremely difficult.
Russia's attacks are a deliberate shift toward systematic infrastructure targeting as battlefield losses mount.
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“This is the beginning of a phase where, since September, they have started taking it out systematically”
Anatolii Frolenkov · Kyiv Independent ↗
The attacks target civilian safety infrastructure rather than legitimate military facilities, prioritizing terror over military goals.
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“Russia has targeted major Ukrainian data centers, seeking to disrupt the flow of information. Rapid alerts about missile and drone threats are essential – they save lives”
Andrii Sybiha · Kyiv Independent ↗
“As Russia is not achieving its goals on the battlefield, it is seeking new ways to destabilize life in Ukraine and terrorize civilians”
Andrii Sybiha, Ukrainian Foreign Minister · Kyiv Independent ↗
Andrii Sybiha Ukrainian Foreign MinisterAnatolii Frolenkov Representative of 1-IX internet exchange pointRussia's Defense Ministry Russian military leadershipUkraine's Ministry of Digital Transformation Ukrainian government agency
How it unfolded 3 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts
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Additional providers report infrastructure damage, outages continue
As disruptions persisted into September 24, Kyiv-based provider Etherlink reported an attack damaged its main network node. Hosting provider MiroHost said its Kyiv data center was destroyed; CityHost also lost equipment stored at a damaged data center.
“This is the beginning of a phase where, since September, they have started taking it out systematically…”
— Anatolii Frolenkov, 1-IX internet exchange representative · source -
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KYIV INDEPENDENT: Russia's latest target: Ukraine's internet https:// kyivindependent.com/russias-la test-target-ukraines-internet/ Russian strikes have hit multiple data centers and internet providers in Kyiv over the past two days, disrupting service for around 100,000 households as Moscow expands its attacks on Ukraine’s internet…
2 more of the top 3 · 5 posts in this stretch
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Especially lately with the Russian disinfo galore permeating the Internet with pro Trump lies. Take away the Russian bots and MAGA dissolves. Cut off Russian money from reaching anywhere outside their borders, and suddenly many countries return to an almost normal and civilized situation.
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Russia has increased strikes on Ukrainian data centres and telecommunications facilities, disrupting internet access across Kyiv and raising concerns that Moscow is seeking to undermine Ukraine's digital economy.
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Russian strikes damage data centers, disrupting internet across Kyiv region
Russian forces attacked multiple data centers and internet service providers in Kyiv, affecting around 100,000 households in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast. At least three providers—Pavutyna, UTELS, and Crazy Network—reported service disruptions. Damage extended to traffic exchange points affecting users in Vinnytsia and Khmelnytskyi regions.
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2 outlets Russia's Attacks Disrupt Internet Services to 100,000 Households in Kyiv, Ukrainian Ministry Says
first by U.S. News & World Report, 1d ago · also Reuters
1 more headline
- Russia attacks internet service facility in Kyiv: network disruptions possible Українська правда · 1d ago
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2 outlets Russian strikes on Kyiv data centers disrupt operations at several Ukrainian media outlets
first by Mastodon, 23h ago · also Kyiv Independent
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Internet’s been out at the Counteroffensive office all day. We called the wifi company but no one picked up. Russian strikes hit data centers of some internet providers in # Kyiv and the Ministry of Digital Transformation said about 100K households are dealing with the same outage.
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background
Ukraine's Foreign Minister rejects Russia's military justification — Andrii Sybiha characterized the targeted data centers as critical civilian infrastructure essential for air raid warnings and emergency information, not military targets. He framed the attacks as part of Russia's escalating campaign to destabilize Ukraine as military progress stalls.
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Russia's Defense Ministry claims responsibility for targeting data centers
Moscow explicitly claimed responsibility for strikes on New-Telco and United DC data centers, alleging they handled military communications. Russia stated it struck facilities supporting Ukraine's Defense Ministry and security agencies. Independent verification of these claims was not possible.
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first by Kyiv Independent, 2d ago · also FT, Diplomacy and Law, Times of India
3 more headlines
- Russia targets Ukraine’s data centres Financial Times · 1d ago
- Russia Targets Ukrainian Data Centres: When Can the Strikes Be War Crimes? Diplomacy and Law · 1d ago
- Russia targets Ukraine's digital nerve centres as war reaches data infrastructure Times of India · 1d ago
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background
Russian drones strike Kyiv fuel storage and infrastructure — Russian forces deployed jet-powered Shahed drones in a daytime attack on Kyiv, directly striking fuel storage tanks in the northern Obolonskyi district. The attack injured eight people, with three hospitalized.
Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet
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3 outlets Russia Knocks Ukrainian News Channels Offline as Moscow Steps Up Attacks on Kyiv’s Data Centers
first by Kyiv Post, 1d ago · also Financial Times, Tom's Hardware
2 more headlines
- Russia has increased targeted strikes on Ukrainian data centers, disrupting internet access for ~100K Kyiv residents on Wednesday and Thursday Financial Times · 1d ago
- Russia bombs Ukrainian data centers in latest escalation Tom's Hardware · 21h ago
and 2 smaller pieces
What people are saying 2 voices from 1 site · best of 6 · verbatim
- Yesterday
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KYIV INDEPENDENT: Russian strikes on Kyiv data centers disrupt operations at several Ukrainian media outlets https:// kyivindependent.com/russian-st rikes-on-kyiv-data-centers-disrupt-operations-at-several-ukrainian-media-outlets/ TV channels Novyny.Live and Armiia TV both temporarily suspended operations following Russian strikes on Kyiv. #…
- Sep 25
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God bless Ukraine. https:// invidious.nerdvpn.de/ https:// kyivindependent.com/russias-la test-target-ukraines-internet/ > Russian strikes have hit multiple data centers and internet providers in Kyiv over the past two days, disrupting service for around 100,000 households as Moscow expands its attacks on Ukraine's internet infrastructure.