Key facts
- Yandex reported damage to a data center in Vladimir Oblast on Oct. 11 due to a drone attack.
- The attack disrupted access to Yandex's financial services.
- Ukrainian defense company Fire Point trolled Yandex on X regarding the incident.
- Multiple drone strikes have targeted Yandex data centers in recent weeks.
- Yandex updated its user agreement to include drone attacks as force majeure.
- President Zelensky stated Ukraine responds in kind to Russian strikes on its infrastructure.
Ukrainian defense company Fire Point taunted Russian tech giant Yandex on Oct. 11 after a drone attack damaged one of its data centers, disrupting financial services. Dima Pirogov, head of Yandex's fintech division, reported the damage on X, stating that many users were unable to check balances, pay for purchases, or transfer money. Fire Point responded to Pirogov's post with a sarcastic "Have you tried turning it off and on again?"
The incident follows a series of reported drone strikes on Russian data centers that have disrupted Yandex services. A Yandex data center in Russia's Vladimir Oblast was completely shut down on Oct. 11 following a reported drone attack, according to Russian state news agency TASS. Earlier, on Oct. 9, a strike damaged the company's data center in Kaluga, disabling several modules. Yandex described its data centers as critical infrastructure and said employees were working to restore operations. Another attack on Oct. 8 caused a fire at the company's data center in Sasovo, Ryazan Oblast, forcing a complete suspension of operations.
In response to the escalating attacks, Yandex updated its user agreement on Oct. 10 to include drone and missile attacks among circumstances of force majeure that could exempt the company from contractual obligations. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Oct. 8 that Ukraine was responding in kind to Russian strikes on Ukrainian data centers, saying, "We always respond in kind."
The attacks are part of an expanding campaign of Ukrainian long-range strikes against infrastructure inside Russia. Fire Point, founded in 2022, is a leading Ukrainian weapons manufacturer specializing in drones and missiles, with plans to complete development of its FP-9 ballistic missile by the end of autumn, boasting a range of up to 850 kilometers (530 miles). The company has faced scrutiny amid a corruption investigation involving a former business associate of President Zelensky.