Russian technology companies are looking for ways to protect and conceal data centers after Ukrainian drone strikes damaged facilities linked to AI supercomputers and disrupted cloud services used by millions of people in Russia, according to the source report. Proposals include moving some infrastructure underground or building it inside open-pit mines.
The strikes have affected data centers operated by Yandex, state-owned bank Sberbank, social media company VKontakte and Russia’s Ministry of Finance. The attacks followed months of Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, with Russian forces also targeting Ukrainian data centers since late September, the report says.
State-owned telecommunications company Rostelecom has discussed the possibility of placing some data centers underground with mining company Norilsk, according to the Russian newspaper Vedomosti. Data Center Dynamics also reported a proposal from a regional governor to build facilities in open-pit coal mines and use green public parks above them as camouflage.
Separately, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on November 2 requiring Russian data center operators to reserve 10 percent of their available space and capacity for potential government needs, according to the independent outlet Meduza. The decree also authorizes the possible use of foreign data centers.
Sources: Ars Technica.