Russian Cyberattacks Strike the Heart of Ukraine's Digital Economy, 100,000 Homes Lose Internet

A wave of Russian drone attacks over the past week struck several data centers and internet service providers in Kyiv, temporarily cutting network access for around 100,000 households in the Ukrainian capital and its surroundings. The attacks on Wednesday and Thursday were seen as a systematic effort to weaken the backbone of Ukraine's digital economy, just as the country prepares for winter.

On Friday, Russian drones struck central Kyiv again and hit the office of Datagroup, one of Ukraine's largest telecommunications companies, killing four people. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said via the X platform that Moscow deliberately targeted key data centers to cripple the flow of information. The attack was not the first, but its scale far exceeded previous patterns.

Reinforcing suspicions of coordination, Polish authorities reported on Thursday that a Starlink satellite station in central Poland serving Ukraine had been set on fire. Local officials called it an "act of sabotage" allegedly linked to Moscow. The incident signals that the digital front is no longer confined to Ukrainian territory but has spilled over into a NATO neighboring country.

Since the full-scale invasion began nearly five years ago, maintaining connectivity has been a priority for the Ukrainian government. Authorities have sought to ensure that mobile and internet providers have enough backup power to operate during prolonged blackouts. Ukraine's relatively decentralized internet network has also served as a natural bulwark: a single attack cannot easily cripple an entire city or region at once.

However, with winter approaching, concerns are mounting. Officials and industry players say repeated Russian attacks could disrupt the networks that underpin banking, payment systems, and public services. Serhii Sternenko, a popular blogger and former government adviser, advised Kyiv residents via X to prepare for winter by securing Starlink terminals or alternative means of communication. According to him, Russia's goal is not only to cripple energy infrastructure but also to destroy all data centers and internet operators.

"Russia's target is not only the capital's energy infrastructure, but also the destruction of all data centers and internet operators," wrote Serhii Sternenko, a former adviser to the Ukrainian government.

The attacks on digital infrastructure come amid an intensification of Russia's broader assault on Ukraine's economy. New jet-powered missiles and drones are being used to hit warehouses, fuel stations, ports, and other commercial infrastructure. On Friday, a warehouse belonging to the McDonald's fast-food chain outside Kyiv was also targeted. The heavy industry sector has been hit hard as well; steel production has come to a complete halt this month, a symbolic blow for a country that was once a major steel producer.

Ukraine now faces a wave of new-generation high-speed jet drones, including the Geran-5, while its stock of Patriot missiles for air defense is running low. In remarks to reporters on Friday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that Donald Trump had approved granting Ukraine a license to produce Patriot air defense missiles. The move could give Kyiv an independent production line, though experts warn it will take years before the line is fully operational. Previously, Trump repeatedly shifted his position on Patriot production permits, especially as the United States itself faces supply pressure due to the war in the Middle East.

For Indonesia, this escalation of digital warfare is an important mirror. Dependence on foreign digital infrastructure—both satellites and data centers—is a vulnerable point that can be exploited in geopolitical conflict. As an archipelagic country with massive data traffic, Indonesia needs to strengthen its cyber sovereignty and network redundancy, especially for the financial sector and public services. The lesson from Ukraine shows that attacks on data centers can paralyze an economy without the need for a ground invasion.

Going forward, the question is no longer whether Ukraine can survive, but how quickly the country can rebuild its air defense capacity and resilient digital networks before winter arrives. If the attacks continue, it is not impossible that Kyiv will have to rely entirely on satellite connectivity—a scenario that is expensive and vulnerable to sabotage. The world, including Indonesia, should pay close attention to how modern warfare is redefining the boundary between civilian infrastructure and military targets.