Russia's Yandex says it is unclear whether data centre can be restored after drone strike

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1. 2h ago

   Yandex Uncertain Over Data Center Recovery After Drone Strike

   Russian technology company Yandex states it cannot yet determine whether equipment at its fire-damaged Sasovo data center can be restored following a drone strike. The facility houses AI operations and services, and the incident marks part of a wider wave of drone attacks targeting Russian data hubs over a multi-day span. Yandex has reported multiple hits across its infrastructure, pushing its cloud operations into emergency mode. Ukrainian authorities confirmed the action, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressing the strikes as a response to Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.

   Why it matters

   The attacks target critical Russian technological infrastructure, striking core operations of the firm often described as Russia's Google. This campaign follows previous Russian strikes on Ukrainian data centers, which Moscow previously described as a forced digital detox. The escalation brings the conflict directly into commercial cloud and artificial intelligence sectors.

   What is confirmed

   • Yandex stated on Thursday that it could not yet determine whether equipment at a data center hit by a Ukrainian drone attack could be restored.
   • A drone attack caused a fire at the Sasovo data center, putting AI operations and services at risk.
   • Ukrainian drone strikes hit Yandex infrastructure, including sites in Kaluga and multiple data centers over a span of days.
   • President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the attacks, stating that Ukraine always responds in kind.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Claims suggest that Russian troll farms went quiet following the drone strikes on Yandex data centers.

   What to watch next

   • Official assessments from Yandex regarding total financial and structural damage to the Sasovo facility.
   • Further disclosures on cloud service recovery times and affected AI operations.
   Sources used for this update (21)

   1. CNBC — Russia's internet giant Yandex halts operations at major data center after drone attack
   2. Reuters — Drones hit Yandex data centre in first major attack on Russian data hub
   3. NBC News — Drones hit Yandex data center in first major attack on Russian data hub
   4. Українська правда — Russian factory housing Yandex data centre attacked and catches fire – photos, video
   5. Reuters — Russia's Yandex says unclear whether data centre can be restored after drone strike
   6. Yahoo — Putin Humiliated as Drones Torch ‘Russia's Google’ in Stunning First
   7. Meduza — Russia called its strikes on Ukrainian data centers a ‘forced digital detox.’ Zelensky says Kyiv has answered by hitting a data center belonging to Russian tech giant Yandex.
   8. The Kyiv Independent — 'We always respond in kind' — Zelensky addresses Ukrainian attacks on Russian data center
   9. The Register — Ukrainian drone attack takes out Russian datacenter
   10. Reuters — Russia's Yandex says second data centre hit by drone attack
   11. Українська правда — Drones put part of Russian tech company Yandex's infrastructure in Kaluga out of operation
   12. Bloomberg.com — Ukraine Targets Yandex Data Centers in Second Day of Strikes, Hitting Service
   confidence 95%