Four people were killed when a Russian drone strike hit a business centre in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, according to local officials. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia has significantly widened its military campaign to target the country's data centres and internet providers, seeking to inflict maximum disruption on the daily lives of ordinary citizens. He emphasized that these aggressive actions directly undermine the ability of people to remain connected, study, and carry out their daily work.
The strike in Kyiv on Friday severely damaged a business centre, took four lives, and hit an adjoining data centre facility. A separate attack on the same day resulted in the death of a 14-year-old boy, whom Israel's foreign ministry later confirmed was an Israeli citizen. Russia officially acknowledged targeting a data centre site during these operations, claiming it was being utilized by Ukrainian military intelligence for operational purposes. The continuing strikes have already caused widespread disruption, with approximately 100,000 households in Kyiv and the surrounding region experiencing complete internet outages on Wednesday alone. Consequently, several local firms are actively transferring their stored data from damaged physical servers to secure locations abroad.
The impact of the infrastructure strikes extended beyond the capital. In the north-western city of Lutsk, municipal authorities reported that electronic information boards at public transport stops completely stopped functioning on Friday due to the cascading effects of the attacks on Kyiv data centres. In a social media statement released on Friday, Zelensky asserted that the Russian leadership is steadily expanding its escalation strategy by treating American and other international businesses, data centres, and internet providers as legitimate targets, effectively declaring ordinary civilian life a war objective. He stressed the urgent need for a decisive global response to hold Russia accountable for its campaign of terror.
Echoing these concerns, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated on Wednesday that the deliberate targeting of data centres is a calculated effort to cut off the flow of life-saving information. He explained that rapid early warning alerts regarding incoming missile and drone threats are essential for preserving human life, noting that this infrastructure constitutes critical civilian assets rather than military targets. Meanwhile, a top defence technology adviser to Zelensky acknowledged on Thursday that localized service disruptions are likely to persist, and warned that the overall cost of internet services could potentially rise to cover expensive infrastructure repairs.
Despite the severity of the infrastructure damage, Serhii Beskrestnov reassured the public by emphasizing that Ukraine's telecommunications network is built with a high degree of decentralization, ensuring the country will not be left entirely without internet access. The specific data centre facility hit during Friday's daytime operation is operated by Datagroup. Company representatives confirmed that technical specialists are currently assessing the extent of the structural damage, while all core services continue to function seamlessly through established backup sites. Footage showing the ruined Inkom business centre, which housed the Datagroup facility, has been independently verified by the BBC.
The Russian defence ministry reiterated that its forces have struck several data processing and telecommunications hubs across Ukraine over the past few days, specifically naming New-Telco, United DC, Kyivstar, and Parkovyi. These telecommunications attacks coincide with an intensified campaign of strikes targeting Ukraine's energy grid and railway networks as the winter season approaches. In response, Ukrainian military forces have continued launching long-range drone and missile strikes against Russian oil refineries and logistical supply hubs, arguing that these facilities provide the financial backing necessary to sustain Russia's ongoing military campaign. Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated the full-scale invasion of Ukraine back in 2022.
In a separate security development on Friday, prosecutors in Poland formally opened a criminal investigation into a suspected arson attack targeting a Starlink satellite ground station located in Wola Krobowska. The national prosecutor's office stated there is strong reasonable suspicion that the perpetrators acted under direct orders from Russian intelligence services, though Moscow has not issued a comment on the matter. The affected station routes vital internet traffic through Poland to neighbouring countries including Ukraine, utilizing SpaceX satellite infrastructure to maintain reliable connectivity via Starlink terminals. In recent weeks, several European NATO member states have issued warnings that Moscow may be preparing a series of hybrid attacks designed to test Western resolve and commitment to supporting Ukraine, allegations that the Kremlin continues to deny.
