Data Centers Become Military Targets in Gulf, Russia, Ukraine Conflicts

Data centers have become military targets in conflicts across the Gulf, Russia, and Ukraine, marking a new front in warfare that threatens AI development and critical civilian services. Iran struck Amazon facilities in the UAE in March, while Russia and Ukraine have traded attacks on each other's data infrastructure. These facilities are vital for telecommunications, banking, hospitals, and energy grids, with military AI use making them strategic assets. Ukraine has hit three Yandex data centers since Oct. 8, disrupting Russian Railways and cloud services, while Russia targeted Ukrainian centers in late September. The attacks have prompted tech companies to rethink data center locations, with the UAE revising plans for a major AI project. Experts say the U.S. may need new policies to deter attacks on American-owned facilities, as companies struggle to protect infrastructure amid surging demand.