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Ukraine Hits Russia’s $1 Billion Sberbank Mega Data Center in New Drone Strike
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukrainian drones struck one of Russia’s largest data centers operated by state-owned Sberbank in Balakovo, Saratov region, overnight on October 14. The attack also reportedly hit a nearby transport terminal, while fires were recorded across the city’s industrial area.
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Ukrainian defense manufacturer Fire Point confirmed the strike on Sberbank’s data center in a statement on October 14, referencing earlier Ukrainian drone attacks against facilities belonging to Russian technology company Yandex.
Fire Point did not specify which weapons were used in the operation or provide details about the extent of the damage.
Sberbank’s mega data center in Balakovo is under attack. Eyewitnesses report dozens of explosions.
— Exilenova+ (@Exilenova_plus) October 14, 2026
Construction of the complex has not yet been completed, but the facility is being developed in phases, and some sections may already have been brought online.
The project, valued… pic.twitter.com/dzZpu1W75X
According to OSINT monitoring group Exilenova+, multiple explosions were reported in Balakovo beginning at approximately 4 a.m. local time. Videos shared online showed explosions and fires at several locations.
Satellite fire-detection data from NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) also indicated active fires within the city’s industrial zone following the strikes.
The targeted Sberbank facility is part of a major data center project valued at approximately 122.2 billion rubles (more than $1 billion). Although construction remains underway, the complex is being commissioned in stages, meaning some sections may already be operational.
Once completed, the facility is expected to accommodate approximately 3,000 server racks and up to 120,000 servers, with a planned power capacity of 82 megawatts.
We also have confirmation of a strike on the industrial area of the MZ Balakovo steel plant.
— Exilenova+ (@Exilenova_plus) October 14, 2026
The facility specializes in producing steel and rolled steel products, including rebar and long products. pic.twitter.com/12xIyERxXp
The center is designed to support Sberbank’s information technology infrastructure, including data storage and processing. It was also intended to host services associated with GosTech, Russia’s state-backed digital platform for government information systems.
A transport terminal in Balakovo was also struck during the attack. Energy infrastructure in the surrounding area may have been affected, with local reports indicating power outages following the explosions.
There were also unconfirmed reports of a possible strike near the Balakovo metallurgical plant. The full extent of damage to the industrial and energy facilities has not yet been independently established.
The attack follows a series of reported Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian data infrastructure.
On October 11, drones struck a Yandex data center in Vladimir, causing a fire and widespread disruptions to the company’s digital services. Reports indicated that more than 80 services were affected following the incident.
Earlier, on October 8, another Yandex data center in Russia’s Ryazan region was targeted, with reports of a major fire at the facility.
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