Strike destroys data center in occupied Donetsk

Second wave of infrastructure strikes as Ukraine and Russia target digital networks

By LineZotpaper

Published20 October 2026

Read Time2 min

A data center operated by Ugletelecom and Elecom, the main telecom provider in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region, was destroyed in an overnight attack on October 20, according to Ukrainian and Russian proxy sources.

The building on Postysheva Street 60 in Donetsk city was hit, with Petro Andriushchenko, head of the Center for the Study of the Occupation, confirming the target to the Kyiv Independent. Footage of the damaged facade was circulated by Ukrainian monitoring channel Exilenova+ and by Alexey Kulemzin, the head of Russia's proxies in the city of Donetsk, who characterized the strike as a Ukrainian attack. Ukrainian officials have not officially confirmed the strike, which is the latest in a rapidly escalating pattern of strikes on each other's data centers.

The sequence began when a Russian attack damaged a Kyiv data center housing network equipment for internet provider UTELS on September 23. Ukraine retaliated with a series of drone strikes between October 8 and October 18, hitting three Yandex data centers, a Sberbank facility under construction, and a data center belonging to social media giant VK.

The Kyiv Independent reports that the consequences of these strikes could extend far beyond disrupted banking and online services, potentially setting back Russia's AI development and affecting military technology.

The attack occurred in the context of the broader humanitarian crisis in occupied Donetsk Oblast, 73 per cent of which is under Russian control. The city of Donetsk, under occupation since 2014, has experienced severe degradation of municipal services, including a critical water crisis where residents have reported going entire days without running water.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The deliberate targeting of data centers marks a significant evolution in the war, moving the conflict deeper into the digital and economic infrastructure that underpins military operations.
Disruption to telecommunications and data services cripples civilian life in occupied territories while degrading the war-fighting capabilities of occupying forces.
The strikes on Russian companies Yandex, Sberbank and VK represent a shift in Ukraine's long-range strike strategy, targeting the technology sector broadly.

Background

The war in Ukraine has seen both sides increasingly targeting critical infrastructure. Ukraine has developed a significant long-range drone strike capability. Russia has occupied the city of Donetsk since 2014 and controls 73 per cent of Donetsk Oblast. The region has suffered from a collapse in municipal services, including water and garbage collection. The targeting of data centers is a recent development in this cycle, with the first major incident being a Russian strike on a Kyiv data center on September 23, 2026.

Key Perspectives

[Ukraine's military position]: Continues its strategy of weakening Russia's ability to sustain the war through long-range strikes, retaliating for Russian attacks on Ukrainian data centers. [Russian proxy authorities in Donetsk]: Characterize the overnight attack on the city as a Ukrainian strike on the occupied territories. [Potential consequences]: The strikes on Russian data centers could affect more than banking and online services, with potential downstream impacts on AI development and military technology.

What to Watch

Whether Ukraine targets more data centers in Russia, or if Russia responds by striking Ukraine's own digital infrastructure.
The extent of the service and data loss for occupied Donetsk, given the already severe water and waste crises.
The impact on Russia's civilian internet and financial sectors, and any subsequent efforts to harden these targets.

Sources

Data center in occupied Donetsk destroyed, expert says · Kyiv Independent

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedA strike destroyed a data center in occupied Donetsk.Kyiv Independent: “An overnight attack on a building in occupied Donetsk, in Donetsk Oblast, destroyed a data center”
Partly supportedThe story describes the strikes as a “second wave” targeting digital networks.Kyiv Independent: “Moscow and Kyiv increasingly strike at each other's data centers”
SupportedAn overnight attack on October 20 destroyed a data center operated by Ugletelecom and Elecom.Kyiv Independent: “An overnight attack on a building in occupied Donetsk, in Donetsk Oblast, destroyed a data center of Ugletelecom and Elecom, the main telecom operator in the occupied Donetsk region, on Oct. 20”
SupportedThe attack was reported by Ukrainian and Russian proxy sources.Kyiv Independent: “Andriushchenko confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that the data center was hit on the premises of Postysheva St. 60, in occupied Donetsk, according to his sources. [...] Alexey Kulemzin, reported a Ukrainian attack on the city”
SupportedThe building at Postysheva Street 60 was hit, and Andriushchenko confirmed this to the Kyiv Independent.Kyiv Independent: “Andriushchenko confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that the data center was hit on the premises of Postysheva St. 60, in occupied Donetsk, according to his sources.”
SupportedUkrainian officials have not confirmed the strike.Kyiv Independent: “Ukrainian officials did not confirm the attack.”
Partly supportedThe strike is part of a rapidly escalating pattern of attacks on each other’s data centers.Kyiv Independent: “Moscow and Kyiv increasingly strike at each other's data centers”
Partly supportedThe sequence began with a Russian attack that damaged a Kyiv data center on September 23.Kyiv Independent: “after a Russian attack damaged a Kyiv data center housing network equipment for internet provider UTELS, causing service disruptions on Sept. 23.”
SupportedUkraine retaliated with drone strikes between October 8 and 18, hitting three Yandex data centers, a Sberbank facility under construction, and a VK data center.Kyiv Independent: “Between Oct. 8 and Oct. 18, Ukrainian drones struck three Yandex data centers, a Sberbank facility under construction, and a data center belonging to social media giant VK.”
SupportedThe strikes could disrupt banking and online services, set back Russia’s AI development, and affect military technology.Kyiv Independent: “The consequences of Ukraine's strikes on Russian data centers could extend far beyond disrupted banking and online services, potentially setting back the country's AI development and affecting military technology.”
SupportedRussia controls 73 per cent of Donetsk Oblast.Kyiv Independent: “73% of Donetsk Oblast are currently occupied by Russia”
Partly supportedThe attack occurred amid a broader humanitarian crisis in occupied Donetsk Oblast.Kyiv Independent: “Occupied Donetsk Oblast has been facing one of the most severe water crises among Ukraine's occupied territories.”