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Ukraine Finds Way to Strike Back at Data Center Attacks. “More Painful for Russia,” Zelenskyy Says
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Ukraine has developed a way to counter Russian attacks targeting its data centers and digital infrastructure, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with The Sun.
According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s retaliatory strikes have a greater impact on Russia due to its centralized infrastructure.
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In a statement shared on his official X account on October 28, Zelenskyy said Russia’s repeated attacks on Ukraine’s digital infrastructure since September 2026 had prompted Kyiv to develop countermeasures.
“Many people didn't see that Russia was attacking our data and cyberspace over a long period of time. Then we found a way to weaken Russia's strategy, to respond to their attacks on data,” Zelenskyy said.
He emphasized that Ukraine’s technological development and decentralized digital infrastructure had helped maintain essential communications despite repeated Russian strikes.
Many people didn't see that Russia was attacking our data and cyberspace over a long period of time. Then we found a way to weaken Russia's strategy, to respond to their attacks on data. We are different here. Ukraine is more technologically advanced. The Russians attacked our… pic.twitter.com/8M5dMKoO55
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 28, 2026
“Ukraine is more technologically advanced. The Russians attacked our data centers so many times, and still we had cell service and an Internet connection. Because we are digitally decentralized and advanced,” Zelenskyy noted.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s retaliatory strikes were more “painful for Russia because they are more centralized.” He explained that Moscow relied on extensive air defense systems to protect its facilities, while Ukraine, facing a shortage of such capabilities, had decentralized its infrastructure, including data systems.
“But we always try to respond and do so only after Russian attacks against us,” the president added.
Zelenskyy’s remarks come amid continued Russian attacks on Ukraine’s digital infrastructure, including a recent strikes that damaged major Ukrainian data centers.
The first large-scale Russian attack on Kyiv’s data centers occurred on September 23, 2026, damaging at least four facilities, including Parkovy, NewTelco, and United DC, as well as infrastructure operated by UTELS and Pavutyna.
The strikes disrupted internet connectivity for approximately 100,000 households and subscribers in Kyiv and other regions, temporarily affecting the operations of several internet providers and online services.
Further attacks followed in October, causing additional damage to the country’s data infrastructure.
An overnight Russian ballistic missile attack on October 19 destroyed the Datagroup data center’s equipment and infrastructure, rendering the facility inoperable and beyond repair.
The company confirmed the damage in a Facebook statement, saying that restoring the data center and resuming its operations would not be possible.
Additionally, on October 20, a Russian attack on the Ukrainian capital damaged the GigaCenter data center, raising concerns about potential disruptions to servers and IT equipment hosted at the facility.
In a Facebook statement, GigaCenter confirmed the damage and said its technical teams were working to mitigate the consequences of the strike and maintain stable operations.
The company also warned customers that equipment hosted at the facility could experience temporary service interruptions as recovery efforts continued.
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