Ukraine's data centre strikes disrupt Russian daily life from dating apps to banking

Ukraine has escalated its 2026 military campaign by striking Russian data centres and telecommunications infrastructure, disrupting daily life including dating apps, email, and banking services, in what Kyiv frames as a mirror response to Russian attacks on Ukrainian data sites. Three strikes in the past week hit Yandex facilities, including a complete shutdown of its Vladimir region data centre on Sunday, while a Wednesday drone attack targeted a Sberbank facility in the Saratov region. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged technology difficulties but said it is too early to assess financial losses, and Yandex insists funds on its payment app remain safe. The campaign follows Ukrainian strikes on energy infrastructure and the retailer Wildberries, aiming to pressure Vladimir Putin's regime through economic discontent. However, BBC Verify suggests claims about reduced Russian bot activity may stem from misinterpreted Cloudflare data, and the strategy's effectiveness in stirring public unrest remains unproven.