Russian tech giant Yandex, often dubbed "Russia’s Google," halted operations at a data centre near Moscow after the facility suffered damage from a Ukrainian drone strike, marking the third Yandex site hit this week.
The company confirmed that the Vladimir data centre—located east of the capital—was destroyed, with no injuries reported but several services becoming unavailable. Yandex stated it was working to restore connectivity, though full operational status remains uncertain.
Earlier in the week, Yandex reported that two of its five data centres had already been struck, compelling the company to pause services to address the losses.
The most recent attack followed a warning from former U.S. President Donald Trump urging Ukraine to "stop" striking Russian oil refineries. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded that any de‑escalation must be reciprocal and backed by real guarantees, citing his willingness to cease attacking Russian energy infrastructure if Russia stops attacks on Ukrainian assets.
Zelensky and Trump clashed over a recent U.S.‑Russia diesel deal that would export millions of tonnes of Russian fuel to the United States. Trump criticized the agreement, suggesting it was time for Ukraine to seek new leadership, while Zelensky condemned the deal as a strategic misstep.
The pattern of targeted infrastructure strikes reflects a broader escalation. Russia and Ukraine have increased attacks on civilian and industrial facilities, with the war now in its fifth year. Ukrainian forces continue to target sites that support Russia’s war economy, including energy, telecom, and transport infrastructure, while Russian strikes on Ukraine persist.
Other recent incidents include Russian attacks that injured six people in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region and killed at least 20 civilians, including four children, in Zaporizhzhia over the weekend.
