Science & Tech · Big Tech & Internet · 3 hrs ago
Russia considers new defenses for data centers after drone strikes
Russia is considering stronger defenses for its data centers after Ukrainian drone strikes raised concerns about attacks on the country’s digital infrastructure.
The proposals from the Digital Development Ministry include anti-drone nets, signal jamming equipment and camouflage.
The ministry has also proposed building some data centers underground, though it has not said which sites would get which protections.
In October, five Russian data centers were targeted, including a Sberbank facility in Balakovo and three owned by Yandex.
The proposals divide facilities into three categories, with strategic sites expected to receive the strongest protection.
Experts cited in the coverage say protective measures could add 5% to 10% to construction costs, while a major outage could wipe out up to 87% of a facility’s value and cause months of downtime.
The ministry says its recommendations have been sent to relevant organizations, but the sources do not say when or whether the measures will be adopted.
Russia is considering new defenses to protect data centers from Ukrainian drone strikes.
The Digital Development Ministry has proposed measures including anti-drone nets, signal jamming, camouflage and underground facilities.
The recommendations also include protecting servers and key systems against shockwaves.
Five data centers were targeted in October 2026, including Sberbank’s facility in Balakovo and three sites owned by Yandex.
The added protections could raise construction costs by around 10%, while an outage could wipe out up to 87% of a facility’s value.
- Who
- Russia’s Digital Development Ministry and data center operators.
- What
- Russia is considering measures to defend data centers against drone strikes.
- When
- The recommendations were reportedly circulated on October 21, 2026; five data centers were targeted in October.
- Where
- Russia, including a Sberbank data center in Balakovo.
- Why
- Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian data infrastructure, prompting concerns about damage and outages.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Ukraine stepped up retaliatory strikes against Russian industrial assets.
Five data centers were targeted, including Sberbank’s Balakovo facility and three Yandex sites.
The ministry’s recommendations were reportedly first circulated.
TechRadar reported that Russia was considering new data center defenses.
- Proposed measures
- Anti-drone nets, signal jamming, camouflage and underground facilities
- October targets
- Five data centers
- Balakovo facility
- Owned by Sberbank; described as the country’s largest data center
- Potential added cost
- Around 10% per facility
- Potential value loss
- Up to 87% in an outage
What people are saying
We confirm that the data processing center was attacked. At the same time, all of Sberbank's systems and services are operating normally and without disruption.
Even if shelters, grids, sensors and duplication of connections add 5-10% to the cost of the object, it is not comparable with the loss of 87% of its cost and months of downtime.