Could data center strikes cause a total blackout, and what problems are already likely?
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Aftermath of the Russian shelling (Photo: REUTERS/Alina Smutko)
Russia cannot completely cut Kyiv off from the internet despite strikes on data centers and telecom infrastructure, though local outages and overloaded mobile networks during blackouts remain possible, dev.ua CEO Stas Yurasov writes on Sept. 25.
“I see complete nonsense being widely circulated. Let’s go through it step by step and separate what is true from what is false,” the expert said, commenting on reports that Kyiv could potentially lose internet access entirely this winter.
According to Yurasov, telecommunications infrastructure consists of many different components and has no single central hub whose destruction could cut the capital off from the internet.
“The telecommunications infrastructure being targeted is quite diverse,” he said.
In particular, damage to a single data center does not mean the loss of data from all Ukrainian services. Many use multiple sites and global cloud infrastructure, including AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud, while backups may be stored outside Ukraine.
“If one data center is damaged, the data is loaded from another site. The user does not notice anything,” Yurasov explained.
Local outages are possible, however. If a strike hits a particular internet provider’s network hub, its subscribers could temporarily lose internet access. But several providers typically operate within the same Kyiv neighborhood.
“Kyiv apartment buildings typically have three to five different internet providers. Each is connected to its own communications hub. If one hub goes down, internet access will still be available through another,” the expert wrote.
Major operators also have redundant infrastructure. Kyiv has thousands of mobile base stations, meaning the destruction of individual facilities should not result in a complete loss of mobile internet service.
One problem during blackouts could be mobile network congestion as large numbers of users switch to 4G at the same time.
“A base station simply won’t be able to handle everyone. Don’t have any illusions about that,” Yurasov warned.
He advised people for whom internet access is critical to connect to a backup home internet provider or use Starlink.
The expert’s main conclusion was: “Ukraine does not have a single or main communications hub — it does not even have several main hubs.” Damage to individual facilities, therefore, does not mean Kyiv will lose internet access entirely.
“Our internet is fine. And it will remain fine,” Yurasov concluded.
Earlier reports said a Russian attack on Kyiv damaged one of the capital’s data centers, which housed UTELS network equipment.
Russian strikes also damaged a data center used by the Pavutyna network. Crazy Network said a missile hit a central traffic exchange data center in Kyiv, disrupting service for its subscribers in Vinnytsia, Kyiv and Khmelnytskyi Oblast.
Russia also destroyed equipment belonging to hosting provider CityHost.UA.
A data center housing infrastructure operated by hosting provider MiroHost was also destroyed.
Reports also emerged of disruptions affecting internet provider Etherlink.
Internet providers KIEVNET, Domonet and FAUST were also affected.
MiroHost founder Oleksandr Olshanskyi discussed whether Ukraine could be left without internet access.
Presidential technology adviser Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov also discussed whether Russian strikes on data centers could cause local internet outages or cut the entire country off from the internet.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Russia is targeting data centers in an effort to disrupt air raid alert systems.
Published with the author’s permission.
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