Russia's latest target: Ukraine's internet

Russian strikes on Kyiv have crippled the Ukrainian capital's internet infrastructure, disrupting service for approximately 100,000 households. The September 23 drone attack targeted multiple data centers and internet providers, marking a shift in Moscow's strategy to weaken Ukraine's communication networks. Ukraine's Digital Transformation Ministry reported outages affecting both Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast, while specialists worked to restore stable service.

This escalation in attacks on Ukraine's internet infrastructure comes after earlier strikes on energy and telecommunications networks. Several providers reported direct damage, including UTELS, Pavutyna, Crazy Network, Etherlink, MiroHost, and CityHost. Russian officials claimed responsibility for the strikes on two Kyiv data centers, alleging that the facilities handled internet traffic for Ukraine's Defense Ministry and provided services for security agencies.

However, these claims could not be independently verified. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha rejected Moscow's characterization, stating that these facilities are essential civilian infrastructure, not military targets. Despite the challenges, experts believe that the internet will not disappear entirely, but outages and disruptions will persist as providers struggle to maintain backup infrastructure.