# Russian tech firms consider underground data centres after Ukrainian strikes

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/ukraines-drone-strikes-spur-hasty-russian-plans-for-underground-data-centers/
- Published: 2026-11-03T20:39:55+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-03T21:38:17+00:00
- Original publisher: Ars Technica
- Original article: https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/11/russia-looks-to-hide-data-centers-underground-as-ukrainian-drones-strike-back/
- Topics: Europe, Russia-Ukraine War, World

## Key points

- Ukrainian strikes have disrupted Russian data centres and services.
- Russia is considering underground facilities and foreign cloud capacity.
- Putin ordered operators to reserve 10 per cent for state needs.

## Summary

Ukrainian drone strikes have damaged major Russian data centres, disrupting cloud services and popular apps. Russian technology firms are now considering underground facilities, while the Kremlin is reserving computing resources for state use and allowing possible access to foreign data centres.

Rostelecom has discussed moving facilities underground with mining company Norilsk, and a regional proposal would place data centres in open-pit coal mines beneath parks. A decree signed by Vladimir Putin on 2 November requires operators to reserve 10 per cent of available space and capacity for government needs. The shift highlights the vulnerability of Russia’s concentrated digital infrastructure, while Ukraine has relied on dispersed systems, European cloud services and Starlink as backups.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.