# Russia orders 10% of data centers reserved for state use amid drone attacks

Digest AI · Hardware & Compute · published 2026-11-03T20:39:55Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/russia-orders-10-of-data-centers-reserved-for-state-use-amid-drone-att

## Summary

Russian tech firms are accelerating plans to relocate data centers underground after Ukrainian drone strikes damaged facilities hosting AI supercomputers and disrupted cloud services for millions. The Kremlin has mandated that operators reserve **10 percent of capacity** for emergency state needs, according to Meduza, signaling heightened concerns over infrastructure vulnerability in the ongoing war with Ukraine. Rostelcom, the state telecom provider, is exploring partnerships with mining firms like Norilsk to build underground centers, while a regional governor proposed camouflaging data centers within open-pit coal mines under green parks, per *Data Center Dynamics*. Ukrainian strikes have already targeted Yandex, Sberbank, VKontakte, and the Russian Ministry of Finance, worsening disruptions.

## Key points

- Kremlin decree requires **10% of data center capacity** be reserved for state emergencies
- Russian firms explore underground or camouflaged data centers after drone attacks
- Ukrainian strikes have damaged facilities for Yandex, Sberbank, and VKontakte

## Why it matters

Underground data centers could become a new norm for AI infrastructure in conflict zones, forcing global tech firms to reconsider security and resilience strategies.

## Sources

1. [Ukraine’s drone strikes spur hasty Russian plans for underground data centers](https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/11/russia-looks-to-hide-data-centers-underground-as-ukrainian-drones-strike-back) (Ars Technica AI, 2026-11-03)

## Cite

Digest AI, "Russia orders 10% of data centers reserved for state use amid drone attacks", 3 November 2026, https://digestai.news/story/russia-orders-10-of-data-centers-reserved-for-state-use-amid-drone-att

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