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Russia hits Ukraine's largest mobile provider, strikes data centres
The strikes disrupted mobile and internet services and injured civilians as Ukraine said about 100,000 households lost connectivity.
On Sunday, September 27, Russia struck a Kyiv data centre twice, wounding three people including two children, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said. Russia's Defence Ministry confirmed hitting a Vodafone Ukraine facility.
Moscow has systematically targeted Ukrainian data centres and communications infrastructure since September, disrupting service to about 100,000 households. "Rapid alerts about missile and drone threats are essential – they save lives," Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on Wednesday.
Kyivstar reported its head office in Kyiv was struck with no casualties. "This is the beginning of a phase where, since September, they have started taking it out systematically," Anatolii Frolenkov of the 1-IX internet exchange told the Kyiv Independent.
Former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced an "Army of Robots" initiative on September 26 to invest in defence tech and scale battlefield solutions. This follows decisions to protect critical communications infrastructure.
Russia plans to spend $12bn next year producing jet-powered drones and loitering munitions, Zelenskiy said, citing internal documents obtained by Ukrainian military intelligence. This spending bolsters capabilities as Moscow continues its campaign against Ukrainian transport infrastructure.
The Russian army has recently hit broadcast facilities and television towers in the neighbouring country in order to hinder communications between different state structures