Strikes on Russian data centers could be as disruptive as attacks on oil refineries, expert says

On October 14, Russian forces struck the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, resulting in the death of three people and the injury of over 20 others, according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service. A strike hit a multi-story apartment building in the Desnianskyi district of Kyiv late on October 13, leading to a fire. The bodies of two victims were found among those injured, an 8-year-old child was among the injured individuals, and 16 people were hospitalized, with four in serious condition.

The city’s Mayor, Vitali Klitschko, reported on the strikes, stating that a massive ballistic missile strike had hit energy facilities in Kyiv and the Kyiv region, causing power outages in the capital. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky alleged that Western partners had failed to warn Ukraine of an impending Russian ballistic missile strike on Kyiv on the evening of October 13.

Zelensky emphasized that the primary target of the missile was Kyiv’s energy infrastructure, specifically the CHPP-4 power plant, one of the city’s key energy facilities.

In a statement, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced that the Russian Armed Forces had conducted a significant strike on communication and energy infrastructure facilities in Kyiv, the Kyiv region, and the Kharkiv region. The ministry claimed these targets served the military-industrial complex and the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Donald Trump had previously announced on October 11 that Russia and Ukraine had reached a ceasefire agreement in the energy sector.

However, Zelensky claimed that Ukrainian Armed Forces had received all relevant orders regarding the ceasefire, and there had been no changes thus far. The Kremlin acknowledged ongoing contacts on the energy ceasefire but reported no progress. A Meduza journalist covered this story, utilizing an AI model to translate the original Russian material into English while ensuring adherence to strict editorial standards.