Technology infrastructure has become an increasingly important target in the war in Ukraine. In this latest Ireland breaking news update, Russian technology company Yandex says two of its five data centres were damaged by Ukrainian drone attacks, creating uncertainty over the availability of several widely used digital services.
The incidents highlight how modern conflicts are extending beyond military facilities and energy networks to the servers, cloud systems and computing infrastructure that support everyday life. For readers following the latest Irish news and international developments, the strikes offer another sign of how the war is affecting critical technology operations on both sides.
Yandex data centres damaged in separate attacks
Yandex reported that its facility in Sasovo, in Russia’s Ryazan region, was seriously damaged during an overnight drone attack on Thursday. The company said operations at the site were completely suspended.
A second facility in the Kaluga region, south-west of Moscow, was attacked on Friday morning. Yandex said part of the site’s infrastructure had been taken out of service, leaving the company working to maintain its services across its remaining locations.
The technology firm described its data centres as critical to the normal operation of its products. It also warned that it was difficult to predict when full service would return.
Possible impact on digital services
Yandex operates Russia’s leading search engine and provides popular taxi, food-delivery and other online services. The company said staff were working continuously to limit disruption, although some functions have already been affected.
Reports indicate that elements of Yandex’s artificial intelligence chatbot service were temporarily unavailable. The company also warned that users of its smart-home products could experience difficulties. The full extent of the disruption remains unclear.
- The Sasovo facility’s operations were suspended after serious damage.
- Infrastructure at the Kaluga site was partially taken offline.
- Some AI chatbot functions were reportedly unavailable.
- Smart-home devices may face intermittent problems.
- No Yandex employees were reported injured.
Why data centres matter in the Ukraine war
The attacks reflect a wider battle over the infrastructure that supports communications, business and government services. Yandex said its Kaluga data centre is among Russia’s largest, covering approximately 130,000 square metres and using a significant amount of electricity each year.
The Sasovo facility is also important to Yandex’s artificial intelligence development. It houses two of the company’s three supercomputers used to develop its AI model. It is not known whether those systems survived the attack or how long repairs may take.
Ukraine’s defence ministry confirmed the strikes and said the damage could force Russia to divert resources towards restoring its computing capacity. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attacks were a response to Russian strikes on Ukrainian data centres.
Ukraine and Russia trade accusations
Kyiv says its attacks focus on infrastructure connected to Russia’s military economy and are intended to put pressure on Moscow’s ability to sustain the war. Zelensky described the response as “mirror-like”, following weeks of Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.
Russia has justified strikes on Ukrainian data facilities by claiming that they support military intelligence. Ukraine, however, accuses Moscow of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, including energy and communications networks.
A Russian drone recently struck a business centre in Kyiv, killing four people and damaging a data centre. The incident reportedly contributed to internet outages affecting about 100,000 households in Kyiv and the surrounding region. Some Ukrainian companies have since started transferring data to overseas facilities to reduce the risk of further disruption.
What this means for the wider conflict
Data-centre attacks show how vulnerable modern societies are when digital infrastructure is damaged. Search engines, delivery platforms, transport applications, online payments and business systems can all be affected when servers lose power or connectivity.
The latest developments are also taking place alongside intensified attacks on energy infrastructure as winter approaches. This raises concerns about the resilience of essential services, both in Ukraine and Russia, and may increase pressure on companies to maintain backup systems outside conflict zones.
Key points to watch
- Whether Yandex can restore the Sasovo and Kaluga facilities quickly.
- Whether users experience wider disruption across search, taxi and delivery services.
- Whether further attacks target data centres or communications infrastructure.
- How companies in the region respond by moving data to foreign facilities.
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Frequently asked questions
What happened to Yandex’s data centres?
Yandex said drones damaged its Sasovo facility in the Ryazan region and part of its Kaluga facility. Sasovo operations were completely suspended, while Kaluga infrastructure was partially taken offline.
Which Yandex services could be affected?
The company has warned of possible disruption to its digital services. AI chatbot functions were reportedly unavailable temporarily, and smart-home devices may also experience problems.
Why are data centres being targeted?
Ukraine says the facilities are connected to Russia’s war-supporting infrastructure. Russia has made similar claims about Ukrainian data centres. Both sides accuse the other of attacking civilian infrastructure.
Were any Yandex workers injured?
Yandex said none of its employees were injured. A regional official in Kaluga said nine people were injured in a drone attack on local infrastructure.
Conclusion
The damage to Yandex facilities underlines the growing importance of digital infrastructure in modern warfare. As both sides expand attacks on networks, energy systems and data centres, service disruption could affect civilians far beyond the immediate strike zones. This remains a significant international development for anyone tracking Ireland breaking news, European security and live updates from the war in Ukraine.
