The strikes, which lasted from the morning into early afternoon, knocked out broadband connections across the capital and nearby areas, leaving tens of thousands without access to online news, emergency alerts and other essential services.
Ukraine’s digital ministry posted on Telegram that technical teams were assessing the damage and working to restore the affected networks, but repairs could take several hours as specialists locate and replace damaged equipment.
Russia’s Defence Ministry later claimed responsibility, stating its forces targeted “data centres and logistics and warehouse sites” that it said were being used to support the Ukrainian military. The ministry identified two data‑centre sites in Kyiv and two logistical hubs in the Black Sea port of Odesa as the objects of the attacks.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the strikes, saying they endangered civilian lives. “Russia has targeted major Ukrainian data centres, seeking to disrupt the flow of information. Rapid alerts about missile and drone threats are essential – they save lives,” he wrote on X, adding that the infrastructure is civilian, not military, and is vital for everyday life.
The disruption underscores the growing reliance on digital infrastructure in the conflict, as both sides recognize that control of information channels can have immediate safety implications for the population.