Ukrainian strikes on Russian data centers disrupt Yandex services across three countries

Ukrainian attacks since October 8 have damaged three of five major data centers supporting Russia's Yandex, disrupting services for millions of users across Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus. The strikes have affected electronic payments, business operations, internet searches, navigation, transport, and food delivery. Kyiv presents the attacks as retaliation for Russian strikes on Ukrainian data centers in September, which Moscow ironically called "digital detoxification." A Moscow taxi driver reported the Yandex Pro app malfunctioned, preventing drivers from withdrawing earnings, while a resident said her savings of approximately $17,830 disappeared from Yandex Pay, though the company insists customer funds are safe. The disruptions expose weaknesses in Russia's domestic digital economy, which Moscow promoted to reduce dependence on Western technology amid sanctions. Russian citizens largely shielded from frontline horrors now face daily consequences, with President Zelensky calling such strikes "long-range sanctions" and President Putin publicly acknowledging their impact.