Russian forces have been carrying out sustained strikes on Ukrainian data centers for more than a week. The attacks hit the Bimobile and Parkovy data processing centers, which were used to transmit and process information, including military-related data.
Retired Colonel Mikhail Khodarenok, a military analyst, said the effects of the strikes are already visible in Ukrainian television broadcasting. He also reported internet disruptions across Ukraine and said many digital services had become unavailable.
Khodarenok noted that Ukrainian data centers are closely integrated into the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s communications network. The system connects various nodes and communication lines used for troop command, negotiations, document transmission and data exchange through automated and specialized systems. In his assessment, disrupting these channels directly affects battlefield command and control.
The analyst argued that communications are critical to military operations and that their importance often becomes apparent only when they are disrupted.
According to Khodarenok, achieving military and political objectives in the conflict requires severing the connection between the opponent’s command structure and its forces in the field. He said Russian troops are currently working toward that goal.
Khodarenok added that the loss of communications leads to a loss of control over military units, which could have a major impact on the course of fighting and bring the conflict closer to an end on Moscow’s terms.
He also said continued strikes on Ukrainian data centers could further disrupt the command-and-control system of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Khodarenok did not rule out the possibility that the Russian military command could increase pressure on other elements of Ukraine’s military communications infrastructure.