Man dies in Kherson hospital from injuries sustained in Russian drone attack, another in grave condition

The Russian Digital Development Ministry has suggested constructing underground data centers, concealed from the air and equipped with drone defenses, following a series of Ukrainian drone attacks on data centers. This proposal, outlined in guidelines for various tiers of data centers, emphasizes the need for protective measures.

The top tier comprises strategic sites whose loss could disrupt crucial state functions for an hour or more; the second tier covers sites supporting regionally or economically important systems, with potential outages of four hours or more; and the final tier pertains to corporate data centers, where damage would not pose significant consequences for the state.

To enhance protection, existing data centers should reduce their visibility from the air and employ layered defenses such as reinforced structures, electronic warfare measures, and drone defense systems. This announcement follows Ukrainian drone strikes on three Yandex data centers, a Sberbank facility under construction, and a VK data center between October 8 and 18.

Russia's central digital infrastructure presents two challenges: inflicting similar damage on Ukraine and safeguarding its data centers from further strikes. Approximately 80% of Russia's data centers are concentrated in Moscow and the surrounding area, within the range of Ukrainian long-range drones. The impact of Ukraine's strikes on Russian data centers could extend beyond disrupted banking and online services, potentially hindering the country's AI development and affecting military technology.

Governor Ilya Seredyuk of Kemerovo Oblast proposed housing data centers inside depleted open-pit mines and quarries for their natural protection against aerial bombardment.