MediumII Cyber Warfare & Critical Infrastructure23 September 2026, Wednesday
Russian strike hits data centres in Kyiv: outages at no fewer than 4 internet providers, connectivity problems for around 100,000 households
Data centres and telecoms infrastructure in Kyiv were damaged in the Russian drone attack on 23 September. According to Ukraine's Ministry of Digital Transformation, around 100,000 households in and around Kyiv experienced internet problems; Russia's Ministry of Defence claimed it had targeted 2 data centres.
According to an Interfax-Ukraine report dated 23 September at 13:06, UTELS announced that 1 of the data centres in the capital housing its core network equipment had been damaged and lost power; Pautina (Pavutyna) was also among the affected providers. According to The Record's report dated 24 September, at least 4 providers — Kyiv Link, Pautina, Utels and Crazy Network — suffered partial loss of connectivity; Pautina temporarily lost around half of its network, while Utels restored service to most of its customers in about 2 hours. Crazy Network reported outages in the Kyiv, Vinnytsia and Khmelnytskyi regions due to a hit on a central internet traffic exchange point.
According to The Record, Russia's Ministry of Defence claimed to have struck 2 data centres, New-Telco and United DC, which it alleged support Ukraine's Ministry of Defence and intelligence agencies; this claim could not be independently verified. The same attack killed 2 people and injured at least 43; in July 1 of Kyiv's main data centres was damaged, and in early September Kyivstar facilities were hit. The Record dates the attack to Wednesday; in the 2026 calendar that day falls on 23 September, and the Interfax report is also dated 23 September.
Talay assessment
Bottom line
By openly adding data centres and traffic exchange points to its target list after energy infrastructure, Russia is opening a critical infrastructure front where kinetic strikes have cyber effects. Although Utels' recovery within 2 hours shows resilience has improved, the most likely path is that such attacks recur ahead of winter.
Likely effects
- Ukraine's digital infrastructureNegativeWeeks
When data centres and traffic exchange points are hit, a single strike affects multiple providers and regions; the need for redundant networks and generators is growing.
- Military communicationsNegative1–6 months
Russia's designation of data centres as targets on grounds of defence and intelligence links shows a tendency to treat infrastructure where civilian and military communications overlap as legitimate targets.
- Türkiye and the Black SeaUncertain1–6 months
The rising frequency of infrastructure attacks in Ukraine brings redundant connectivity and business continuity plans to the fore for Turkish telecoms and logistics companies in the region.
Possibilities, ranked
- 1Attacks continue into winter60%
Russia keeps striking data centre and telecoms facilities alongside energy targets, and outages are partly resolved within hours.
Watch: Ukraine's Ministry of Digital Transformation statements on outages and affected households
- 2Lasting capacity loss25%
Repeated hits knock out some providers' core networks for weeks, and dependence on satellite connectivity grows.
Watch: Major providers reporting outages lasting several days
- 3Target list narrows15%
Energy ceasefire talks expand to cover telecoms infrastructure, and attacks on data centres stop.
Watch: Reference to telecoms infrastructure in a US–Russia–Ukraine energy ceasefire text
Probabilities are calibrated judgement based on the sources, not measurement, and are revised as new information arrives. Not investment advice.
Market reaction
Indicators affected
- Households affected▼ ~100,000
- Providers with outages▼ at least 4
- Pautina network loss▼ ~50%