Ukraine’s Drone Strikes Accelerate Russia’s Development of Underground Data Centers

In a significant shift in policy, President Vladimir Putin has authorized a special Russian government commission to permit the use of foreign data centers, contingent upon consultations with the Federal Security Service. This decision marks a departure from the stringent Sovereign Internet Law, which previously restricted Russian companies from utilizing cloud infrastructure located beyond the nation’s borders.

This new direction is particularly relevant as Russia seeks to develop a self-reliant and increasingly isolated Internet infrastructure. The country’s current model, which is heavily centralized and dominated by a few major tech firms like Yandex, has shown vulnerabilities during the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. Recent drone strikes targeting critical Russian data centers have caused notable disruptions in key services, affecting payment systems, digital banking apps, e-commerce platforms, video streaming services, and ride-hailing applications.

As a result of these military actions, Yandex has relocated all three of its main supercomputers after they were targeted in Ukrainian drone attacks. This highlights the precarious nature of Russia’s digital infrastructure during wartime.

In contrast, Ukraine’s decentralized digital services have demonstrated greater resilience in the face of sustained Russian assault. The Ukrainian government has proactively taken measures to decentralize vital energy and telecommunications resources, improving their robustness against drone and missile strikes. Burying infrastructure underground has also added a layer of protection.

Support from major U.S. tech firms, notably Amazon and Microsoft, has further bolstered Ukraine’s digital resilience. These companies facilitated the migration of crucial government services and resources to cloud facilities in other European regions shortly after the invasion began in February 2022. Additionally, Ukraine has leveraged SpaceX’s Starlink satellite terminals—financed by the United States and several European nations—as an alternative communication system during crises.