Russia Plans Underground Data Centers Following Ukrainian Drone Strikes

Russian tech companies are responding to the damage inflicted by Ukrainian drone strikes on their data centers by planning to move these facilities underground. This initiative is driven by the Kremlin's recent decree requiring data center operators to reserve 10% of their capacity for state emergencies, reflecting heightened concerns about the vulnerability of Russia's cloud computing infrastructure. Notably, the state-owned telecommunications company Rostelcom is in discussions to utilize open-pit coal mines for data centers, while other proposals suggest camouflaging these facilities with green public parks.

The shift to underground data centers could lead to significant operational changes for Russian tech companies, as they adapt to new security measures. Additionally, the Kremlin's authorization for the use of foreign data centers marks a departure from previous restrictions under the "Sovereign Internet Law," potentially complicating compliance for local businesses. Meanwhile, Ukraine's decentralized digital services have shown resilience against such attacks, aided by support from US tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft, which helped migrate crucial services to safer cloud regions in Europe.