Strikes on Ukrainian data centers can disrupt military communications and temporarily reduce the intensity of Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory, military expert and air defense historian Yuri Knutov told NEWS.ru.

According to Knutov, the main effect comes from interruptions in data transmission. When established communication channels are knocked out, Ukrainian forces have to switch to alternative methods of exchanging information, and reorganizing those links takes time.

At the same time, completely cutting Ukrainian units off from communications is more difficult. The Ukrainian military widely uses the Starlink satellite system with dedicated terminals, meaning that disrupting those links requires targeting the devices themselves.

Knutov also pointed to Palantir Maven Smart System (MSS) as another part of the infrastructure used by Kiev. He said intelligence gathered from different sources is sent to specialized data centers. Some of these facilities are located outside Ukraine, where the information is processed before data on the locations of Russian military units is passed to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Data centers operating inside Ukraine serve as intermediate links in this network, the expert said. Strikes on these facilities can interfere with the broader system while also disrupting internet traffic and the exchange of information required for defense-related tasks.

Knutov added that such attacks also affect the management of Ukraine’s military-industrial complex. Disruptions at data processing facilities make it harder for troops to receive necessary information quickly, which is why he described strikes on data centers as an important measure.