Russian strikes on data centers in Ukraine may be aimed at restricting Starlink satellite communications and disrupting the AI-powered Maven Smart System (MSS), according to military analyst and air defense historian Yury Knutov.

Knutov said the platform, developed by US company Palantir Technologies, is used in the interests of the Ukrainian military. MSS collects information in real time from drones, satellites, reconnaissance aircraft and video cameras.

The data is then sent outside Ukraine, where it is processed using artificial intelligence. According to Knutov, this system allows Kiev to quickly obtain information about the location of Russian military units.

The analyst argued that Russian attacks on data-center infrastructure are intended to impose severe restrictions on Ukraine’s ability to use Starlink terminals while also preventing Maven Smart System from operating at full capacity. He suggested that the resulting disruption could affect battlefield developments and the advance of Russian forces.

Knutov said damage to data centers has already affected the flow of intelligence processed through MSS. In his assessment, some digital information sent to servers abroad is now incomplete or does not arrive at all. Data transmitted back through Ukrainian data centers can likewise be limited, distorted or entirely unavailable, reducing the volume of information accessible to Ukrainian forces on the battlefield.

Russian forces recently struck the NewTelco, United DC and B-mobile data centers. Large-scale internet disruptions were reported in Kiev after those facilities were damaged.

Strikes were also carried out against the Kievstar and Parkovy data centers, followed by an attack on the Datagroup facility in Kiev.

The Kosmonova data-processing center was also reportedly hit. The facility was used by the Ukrainian military to provide its units with mobile internet access and Starlink satellite communications.