Ukrainian drones reportedly strike Yandex data center, warehouses in overnight attack on Russia

In a series of overnight drone attacks on Russian soil, Ukrainian forces targeted multiple locations across the Moscow, Rostov, and Vladimir regions. The Kyiv Independent has not yet been able to independently verify the targets or extent of damage. According to monitoring channels ExileNova+ and SuperNova+, Yandex's data center in Vladimir Oblast, approximately 500 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, suffered large explosions and active air defense systems operating near residential buildings.

This attack follows three near-consecutive days of strikes on Yandex data centers in Russia, with the last occurring on October 11.

Earlier in the night, Ukrainian drones disrupted airspace above several Moscow airports, including Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Zhukovsky, and Sheremetyevo, resulting in flight cancellations. Russian opposition news channel Astra reported that over 59 Ukrainian drones were shot down by Moscow's air defense system. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that more than 59 Ukrainian drones were destroyed by the city's air defense system during the night.

The closure of Moscow's airspace partially fulfilled President Volodymyr Zelensky's September promise that Russian skies would soon be de facto closed, with drones on a scale never seen before. While it is unclear which targets were hit around Moscow, eyewitness footage from city residents shows flames illuminating the night sky, along with the sounds of drones overhead and loud explosions.