Drones strike Yandex data centre in Russia's Ryazan region

A major data centre owned by Yandex, Russia’s leading technology and artificial intelligence company, was struck by drones. The facility, located in the Ryazan region, sustained damage during the incident, which marks the first time a significant Russian data hub has been targeted in such an attack.

Yandex confirmed the occurrence of the strike on Thursday. The company noted that the facility serves as a critical piece of infrastructure for its operations, though it did not immediately provide specific details regarding the extent of the physical damage or the status of the data stored at the site.

The attack represents a notable escalation in the targeting of Russian domestic infrastructure. While various industrial and energy facilities have been subject to drone strikes throughout the ongoing conflict, this incident is the first documented case of a major data processing hub being hit.

Authorities and company representatives have not yet released a comprehensive assessment of the operational impact resulting from the strike. Investigations into the incident are ongoing as the company evaluates the security and functionality of its regional data infrastructure.