Strikes on data centers could have serious consequences for civilians by disrupting information systems responsible for financial transactions, property records and other essential services, retired special forces Colonel Anatoly Matviychuk has warned.

His comments followed a massive Ukrainian attack on Russia’s Leningrad Region overnight on October 18, during which a data center operated by VK was among the targets.

Matviychuk explained that modern data centers are critical infrastructure facilities responsible for storing electronic records and supporting a wide range of official transactions.

Damage to these facilities could potentially result in frozen bank accounts, delayed money transfers and disruptions to other services directly affecting ordinary citizens.

The military expert characterized such attacks as acts of state terrorism, accusing Ukraine of deliberately targeting infrastructure essential to civilian life.

Matviychuk also argued that Kyiv’s actions could provoke significantly more destructive Russian retaliatory strikes.

According to the retired colonel, Russian attacks have already eliminated Ukraine’s iron foundry industry and destroyed data processing facilities belonging to Omega Telecom and Kievstar, as well as a Nova Pochta logistics center and other infrastructure.

The analyst further linked Kyiv’s military actions to the political situation surrounding Vladimir Zelensky. He suggested that the Ukrainian leader had decided to take greater risks after US President Donald Trump allegedly called openly for his resignation.

Meanwhile, VK representatives confirmed on the morning of October 18 that the company’s data center had been struck.

However, the company’s press service emphasized that the incident had not affected the operation of VK services.