Ukraine is stepping up the protection of its digital infrastructure following Russian attacks on data centres and communications hubs. Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi stated that the state must plan for the worst-case scenario and build a system so that the internet and critical digital services can continue to operate even in the event of further attacks. Part of the infrastructure is to be backed up in cloud environments and abroad, whilst combined protection schemes are being considered for certain facilities.
Briefly about the main points
- Russia has begun deliberately targeting Ukrainian data centres and communications infrastructure.
- The government is preparing for the worst-case scenario in order to prevent a widespread loss of internet access.
- There are plans to replicate some of the data and services in the cloud and on overseas platforms.
- The protection of data centres had already been discussed at a meeting of the High Command.
- Between 23 and 25 September, at least four data centres and more than ten internet service providers were affected in Kyiv.
Koretsky: We must plan for the worst-case scenario
Prime Minister Sergey Koretsky stated during the telethon that the risks to digital and communications infrastructure would remain high until the war ends.
According to him, the system should be designed in such a way that critical services do not depend on a single physical site.
«Some things should be in the “cloud”, some should be abroad, some should be a “mix”, and some should be all three at the same time.».
Koretsky emphasised that, in the face of Russian attacks, Ukraine must plan its defence on the basis of the worst-case scenario.
Russia has already attacked several data centres in Kyiv
The problem became particularly acute following a series of attacks on 23–25 September. According to DOU, Russian attacks have damaged at least four buildings in Kyiv data centres, network nodes and equipment belonging to more than ten internet and hosting providers.
Due to damage to the infrastructure, internet disruptions were reported in around 100,000 households in Kyiv and the surrounding region. Some companies resumed operations using backup lines and infrastructure located outside Ukraine.
Among the companies that reported problems or damage were UTELS, «Pavutina», Crazy Network, KyivLink, Cityhost, MiroHost, Etherlink, FEX.NET and Data Group.
Data centre security has already been elevated to the level of the General Staff
On 25 September, the President Volodymyr Zelenskyy He reported that, at a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s Headquarters, further decisions had been taken to protect data centres and other critical communications facilities.
The President emphasised that these decisions are intended to ensure the uninterrupted operation of the infrastructure, and that government officials and heads of the security services will be personally responsible for their implementation.
The following day, Zelenskyy stated that Russia was conducting a separate operation against Ukrainian data centres and telecommunications infrastructure with the aim of depriving Ukrainians of internet access and digital services.
Could Ukraine be left completely without the internet?
The government’s statements do not imply that a complete nationwide internet shutdown is inevitable.
This primarily involves preparing for large-scale local outages and the loss of individual nodes. That is precisely why the state and private operators are focusing on redundancy, data mirroring, migrating parts of their systems to cloud environments, and utilising overseas infrastructure.
Recent attacks have already demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach: a number of providers were able to restore most of their services within a few hours by using backup routes and sites.
