Russia struck the headquarters of Kyivstar, Ukraine’s largest mobile service provider, in Kyiv on September 27 as part of a wider wave of attacks on Ukrainian communications and data infrastructure. Kyivstar confirmed that its head office was damaged in the attack, but said there were no casualties among its employees.
The attack came amid a series of Russian strikes targeting data centres and communications facilities across Ukraine. These facilities support mobile networks, internet services, cloud systems and the flow of digital information, making them important parts of the country’s critical infrastructure.
Russia’s Defence Ministry also said its forces had struck a data centre belonging to Vodafone Ukraine, the country’s second-largest mobile network provider. Vodafone did not immediately comment on the Russian claim. Reuters noted that the Russian military’s claims about the targets could not be independently verified.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a data centre in Kyiv was hit twice on Sunday morning. He said the attack injured two children and one adult. The reported attack added to concerns about the safety of civilian infrastructure in the capital.
Ukraine’s Digital Ministry said Russian attacks on data centres belonging to Ukrainian internet providers over the previous week had caused service disruptions affecting around 100,000 households in Kyiv and surrounding areas. Several internet and technology companies have reported damage to their infrastructure during the recent attacks.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Russia was targeting major Ukrainian data centres in an attempt to disrupt the country’s flow of information. He also stressed the importance of reliable communication systems, particularly for delivering rapid warnings about missile and drone attacks.
Such warning systems are important during Russia’s continuing air campaign against Ukraine. Mobile networks and internet infrastructure help authorities communicate emergency information and allow residents to receive alerts and seek shelter.
Russia, meanwhile, has said that some of the facilities it targeted were connected to Ukrainian military communications and logistics. The Russian Defence Ministry claimed the Vodafone facility provided communications and high-speed internet services to Ukraine’s military. These claims have not been independently verified.
The latest attack on Kyivstar follows other strikes on Ukrainian communications infrastructure. Ukrainian authorities and companies have reported damage to data centres and network facilities in Kyiv and other parts of the country during the past week. The attacks have caused interruptions to internet and digital services in some areas.
The growing focus on digital infrastructure has added another dimension to the war, where communications networks have become essential for civilians, businesses, emergency services and government operations. Damage to data centres can affect services well beyond the location of the strike.
Kyivstar had also reported damage to one of its engineering facilities in an earlier September attack, although the company said at that time that employees were safe and its network continued to operate normally.
The latest strikes are expected to increase pressure on Ukraine to protect its telecommunications and data infrastructure. As the conflict continues, both sides are increasingly targeting infrastructure that plays a role in communications, logistics and wider wartime operations.