Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Russian forces have widened their campaign of attacks to target the country's data centres, in what he described as an effort to disrupt civilians' daily lives.
Zelensky said such strikes aim to undermine "people's ability to stay connected, study, work," highlighting the potential impact on communications, online education and the operations of businesses that depend on digital services.
Data centres house servers and networking equipment that support internet access, cloud services, and a range of public and private applications. Damage to these facilities can cause outages, interrupt remote learning and impair the digital tools used by companies and public services.
Zelensky's remarks underline concerns about the vulnerability of critical digital infrastructure during the conflict and the wider consequences for civilians who rely on internet and data services for work, schooling and daily communication.