On the night of 4 November, in the temporarily occupied city of Donetsk, the telecommunications infrastructure of the mobile network operator «Phoenix» – which is controlled by the Russian occupation administration – came under attack. According to preliminary reports, at least three strikes were recorded, following which mobile network disruptions occurred in the city. Photographs of a fire near a high-rise building were shared on social media.
- On the night of 4 November, reports emerged of an attack on the infrastructure of the «Phoenix» operator in Donetsk.
- Mobile network disruptions have been reported in the city, and photographs of the fire have been published.
- The «Phoenix» operator uses infrastructure seized by the Russian occupying forces after 2014.
At least three hits: what is known about the attack
According to the report Exilenova+, in occupied Donetsk, a series of strikes continues against telecommunications facilities used by the Russian occupation forces.
This time, the infrastructure of the «Phoenix» operator came under attack. The monitoring channel reports at least three hits and disruptions to the network.
The footage released shows intense flames near a multi-storey building and thick smoke rising above the scene of the fire.
At the same time, the exact extent of the damage, the number of pieces of equipment put out of action and the duration of the communication disruptions are currently unknown.
«Phoenix» is operating on infrastructure seized following the occupation of Donetsk
The «Phoenix» operator was established by the occupying administration in 2015 following the seizure of part of the telecommunications infrastructure belonging to Ukrainian companies.
On 4 February 2015, armed groups seized the technical centre «Kyivstar» in Donetsk, damaged the equipment and cut off its power supply. The Ukrainian operator was forced to shut down part of its network in the occupied territory.
Subsequently, the occupying administration set up its own communications network called «Phoenix», using, according to reports from Ukrainian law enforcement agencies, equipment that had been seized.
At present, this operator provides mobile coverage to a significant part of the temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk Oblast.
Infrastructure belonging to «Lugakom» had previously been attacked in Luhansk»
The strike on «Phoenix» facilities came following reports of similar attacks on telecommunications infrastructure in occupied Luhansk.
On the night of 29 October, local residents reported that facilities belonging to the operator «Lugacom» had been hit again. Following the explosions, disruptions to internet and mobile phone services were reported in the city.
Earlier, on 21 October, it was reported that a strike had been carried out on the former «Ukrtelecom» building, which housed the facilities of the occupying operator.
