Russian attack disrupts internet around Kyiv
Ukraine says data centres were damaged and around 100,000 households experienced internet problems.
A Russian drone attack disrupted internet connections in Kyiv and the surrounding region on Wednesday. Ukrainian authorities say data centres belonging to internet providers were damaged; Russia says military infrastructure was hit.
The attack took place on 23 September, during a series of Russian drone attacks on Kyiv. Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation reported that around 100,000 households in Kyiv and the region temporarily experienced problems with their internet connection.
According to Ukrainian reports, equipment and data centres belonging to providers Pavutyna and UTELS were damaged. Repair teams restored connections and access to services as quickly as possible. The duration of the disruptions varied by network and location.
Russia presented a different account. The Russian Ministry of Defence said the attacks targeted data centres, logistics sites and other infrastructure that, according to Moscow, was being used by the Ukrainian army. Reuters could not independently verify those Russian claims.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called data centres essential civilian infrastructure. According to him, disruptions could affect the distribution of warnings about missiles and drones, as well as residents’ daily lives.
The attack shows how dependent modern cities are on digital infrastructure. A damaged data centre can affect not only internet connections, but also business communications, payments, government services and access to information. The affected networks are part of a broader, distributed telecommunications system; the available sources do not indicate that Kyiv was at risk of being without internet for an extended period.
There is no independent confirmation of the precise extent of the physical damage or of whether the data centres were military targets. It is clear, however, that the attack caused demonstrable network disruptions and that the two sides interpret the significance of the affected infrastructure differently.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- On 23 September, data centres and network equipment in Kyiv were damaged, according to Ukrainian authorities.
- Around 100,000 households in Kyiv and the region experienced internet problems.
- Russia says military infrastructure was hit; that claim has not been independently verified.
Left
Arguments Digital connections that civilians need for warnings, healthcare and daily life should be protected as civilian infrastructure. Attacks affecting such facilities require international condemnation and additional support for Ukraine’s resilience.
Values Protection of civilians, public facilities and international legal norms.
Consequences More support for redundant networks and stronger international pressure against attacks on civilian digital infrastructure.
Centre
Arguments The facts about the damage and targets should be independently investigated before legal or military conclusions are drawn. At the same time, allies should help Ukraine maintain essential connections.
Values Verifiability, proportionality and institutional responsibility.
Consequences Emphasis on investigation, cyber resilience and practical protection without unsubstantiated escalation claims.
Right
Arguments A state at war must be able to protect its military communications and logistics, even when that infrastructure is technically intertwined with civilian networks. The risk of civilian facilities being misused should not be ignored.
Values National security, deterrence and the responsibility of military users.
Consequences More attention to separating civilian and military systems and disabling military capacity, with the risk of collateral damage.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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The core facts have been confirmed by Ukrainian government reports and independent reporting. Claims about the military status of the data centres are presented as assertions by Russia.
- confirmed The attack took place on 23 September 2026. — Reuters and Hromadske date the attack to 23 September. source
- confirmed Around 100,000 households experienced internet problems. — Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation reported this; Reuters and Interfax-Ukraine published the same estimate. source
- confirmed Data centres belonging to Pavutyna and UTELS were damaged. — This was reported by Hromadske and Interfax-Ukraine, based on information from the providers and Ukraine’s ministry. source
- confirmed Russia said military infrastructure had been hit. — Reuters describes this claim by the Russian Ministry of Defence and notes that it could not be independently verified. source
Editor's note
The internet disruptions and the number of affected households were reported by Ukrainian authorities and picked up by independent reporting. The Russian claims about the targets and the precise damage could not be independently established.Sources
- Russia's attacks disrupt internet services to 100,000 households in Kyiv — Reuters via MarketScreener
- Russian strikes damage Kyiv data center, causing internet disruptions — Hromadske
- About 100,000 households in Kyiv, region have internet problems following Russian attack — Interfax-Ukraine
More on this in Dutch media
- RTL Nieuws — „kyiv oekraine”
- NOS — „kyiv oekraine”
- Het Parool — „kyiv oekraine”