World · Europe · 3 hrs ago
Russian firms turn to mobile data centers after drone strikes on Yandex
From October 8 to 11, Ukrainian drones attacked three of Yandex’s six data centers in Russia, disrupting Yandex services and those of other companies.
The attacks were in Sasovo, Kaluga and Vladimir, and the extent of damage to some equipment was not known.
Two-thirds of Russia’s data centers are in the Moscow region and St. Petersburg, making the concentration of computing capacity a security concern.
Russia’s deputy digital development minister had urged companies to move computing capacity farther from those areas.
Demand for mobile data centers, which can provide computing capacity in containers, has risen since late summer.
One supplier is Yadro, part of X Holding, where Boris Korolev, the son of an FSB deputy director, is a deputy CEO.
Yadro launched its Borey mobile data center in 2026, but it is not known how much of the recent demand will benefit the company.
Ukrainian drones attacked three of Yandex’s six data centers from October 8 to 11, disrupting Yandex services and those of other companies.
Russian businesses have been buying mobile data centers in larger numbers as demand has risen since late summer.
Suppliers include Rostelecom subsidiary RTK-TsOD and Yadro, part of X Holding, whose deputy CEO is Boris Korolev, son of an FSB first deputy director.
Yadro launched its containerized Borey data center in 2026; a unit costs 18 million to 25 million rubles without servers.
On October 6, Deputy Digital Development Minister Yevgeny Filatov urged companies to move computing capacity beyond the Urals.
- Who
- Ukrainian forces attacked Yandex data centers. Russian companies are buying mobile data centers, including from RTK-TsOD and Yadro.
- What
- Drone strikes hit three Yandex data centers, disrupting services and increasing attention to mobile data centers.
- When
- The attacks took place from October 8 to 11, 2026. Demand for mobile data centers had risen since late summer.
- Where
- The attacked facilities were in Sasovo in the Ryazan region, Kaluga, and Vladimir, Russia.
- Why
- The sources report the attacks as part of Ukraine’s strikes on Russian data centers. They say businesses are seeking to protect or relocate computing capacity.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Demand for mobile data centers began to rise, according to the BBC.
Deputy Digital Development Minister Yevgeny Filatov called for computing capacity to be moved beyond the Urals.
Ukrainian drones attacked Yandex’s data center in Sasovo in the Ryazan region, where a fire stopped the site’s work.
Ukrainian drones attacked a Yandex data center in Kaluga.
Ukrainian drones attacked a third Yandex data center, in Vladimir, and services experienced disruptions.
- Yandex data centers attacked
- 3 of 6
- Attack period
- October 8–11, 2026
- Yandex data center locations
- Sasovo, Ryazan region; Kaluga; Vladimir
- Borey unit price
- 18 million to 25 million rubles without servers
- Data centers concentrated in
- Two-thirds are in the Moscow region and St. Petersburg
What people are saying
One of the main tasks now is how to move computing power, to move the entire useful IT load out of Moscow, St. Petersburg and the Moscow region somewhere farther away
The news background is favorable for new sales — even too favorable
Sources
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