Russia Weighs Drone Defenses for Data Centers After ‘Unprecedented’ Yandex Attacks

Oct. 12, 2026 Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev. Sergei Kiselev / Moskva News Agency Russia is working on measures to protect data centers from drone attacks after a series of “unprecedented” strikes on tech giant Yandex’s facilities, Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev said Monday. “Yandex faced an unprecedented attack. The Digital Development Ministry, together with the Defense Ministry, is working on the issue of protecting these facilities,” Shadayev told a State Duma committee, according to Interfax. He did not specify what protective measures were under consideration. His comments follow drone attacks on three Yandex data centers in four days that have caused server outages that triggered service disruptions for users. The strikes hit facilities in the Ryazan, Kaluga and Vladimir regions between Thursday and Sunday. The disruptions affected Yandex’s ride-hailing, food delivery and payment services, as well as companies that rely on Yandex Cloud, including online retailer Wildberries and fast-food chain Vkusno i Tochka. Industry analysts told the Kommersant newspaper that replacing damaged server equipment could take up to six months. Shadayev said backup systems and the distribution of computing capacity across multiple sites had helped services continue operating despite the scale of the attacks, adding that companies across the industry were helping address the disruptions. Russian IT companies and mobile operators had begun buying mobile data centers even before this month’s attacks, the BBC’s Russian service reported. The outlet linked one supplier to a senior Federal Security Service (FSB) officer. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has described the targeted attacks as retaliation to Russia’s recent missile strikes against Ukrainian server facilities in Kyiv. Russia has conducted a strike campaign against Ukrainian data centers and telecommunications infrastructure over the past month, including targets in central Kyiv. Last month, the exiled news outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe reported that a large stake in Yandex was controlled by people linked to Bank Rossiya and President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle following the sale of the company’s Russian business in 2024. Read more about: Yandex , Drones , Ukraine war , Technology Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russia’s Yandex Says Data Center in Vladimir Shut Down After Drone Attack Some of Yandex's services are currently unavailable to users, the company said. 1 Min read Ukraine Drones Hit Second Yandex Data Center in Two Days The Kaluga region governor said nine people were injured and infrastructure was damaged by Ukrainian drones. 2 Min read Russian Army Downs Over 100 Ukrainian Drones in Third Night of Air Attacks In the Lipetsk region south of Moscow, eight people were injured by falling debris after drones were downed over an industrial zone, authorities said. 2 Min read Ukrainian Drone Attack on Russia’s Belgorod Region Kills 1 Russia’s military said its air defense systems shot down 19 Ukrainian drones across the country and annexed Crimea overnight. 1 Min read