Russian technology company Yandex has suspended operations at a data centre in Vladimir, east of Moscow, after damage from a Ukrainian drone strike, marking the third reported attack on the company’s facilities in a week.
Yandex, often described as “Russia’s Google”, said no one was injured in the incident. However, some of its services became unavailable as the company worked to restore connectivity.
In a statement posted on Telegram, Yandex confirmed that operations at the facility had been “completely suspended” following the damage.
The latest incident follows two earlier strikes on the company’s data centres, raising concerns about the resilience of digital infrastructure supporting Russia’s technology services.
Three Data Centres Hit in One Week
Yandex reported problems at facilities in Sasovo on Thursday and Kaluga on Friday. The company said the incidents had disrupted some services, including its artificial intelligence chatbot and smart home devices.
Bill Gates Warns AI-Powered Cyberattacks Could Surge Over Next Year
The company operates a range of digital services used by millions of people, including search, artificial intelligence tools, food delivery and ride-hailing applications.
Yandex has warned that its data centres are essential to the normal functioning of its services and that predicting when affected systems will return to full operation can be difficult.
The latest strike in Vladimir has added to pressure on the company as it works to restore services following the earlier incidents.
Ukraine Targets Infrastructure Linked to Russia’s War Effort
Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian infrastructure as the war continues into its fifth year following Moscow’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Kyiv has said attacks on facilities supporting Russia’s economy and military capabilities are intended to reduce revenue and disrupt resources available for the war effort.
Damage to major technology facilities could also force Russian companies to redirect funds and personnel towards repairs and service restoration.
Both Russia and Ukraine have intensified attacks on infrastructure in recent months, with energy facilities, industrial sites and other critical assets among the reported targets.
Strike Follows Trump’s Warning Over Russian Oil Refineries
Sunday’s attack came hours after US President Donald Trump criticised Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil refineries.
Trump said Ukraine should “damn well stop” attacking the facilities, linking his remarks to efforts to allow Russia to release more diesel onto the global market.
The proposed arrangement has drawn criticism in Europe and contributed to a diplomatic dispute with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The debate highlights tensions over efforts to address fuel prices and global energy supplies while maintaining support for Ukraine and pressure on Moscow.
Russian Attacks Continue Across Ukraine
Meanwhile, Russian strikes on Ukraine continued over the weekend.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said six people were injured in overnight attacks affecting four districts in the south-eastern Dnipropetrovsk region.
Local officials also reported that at least 20 people, including four children, were killed in Russian attacks on Zaporizhzhia on Saturday.
Russia has previously targeted Ukrainian data centres, contributing to internet disruptions and prompting some businesses to move their servers abroad.
The latest damage to Yandex’s facilities underscores how the war continues to affect civilian technology infrastructure and digital services on both sides.
