Russian strikes on Kyiv data centers force Cosmonova shutdown and knock multiple TV channels off air

Why it matters

The strikes disabled Kyiv's Cosmonova data center outright and knocked several Ukrainian TV channels and internet providers off air, showing that attacks on civilian telecom infrastructure now have direct knock-on effects on information access for the public. President Zelensky elevated the issue to a national-security level by announcing, after a Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief meeting, new measures to protect critical communications infrastructure. An ISW assessment links the intensified campaign to Russia's search for 'alternative mechanisms of victory' amid stalled offensive operations, framing the strikes as a strategic choice rather than tactical opportunism. Around 100,000 households in Kyiv lost internet access, and ISW projects that repair costs may be passed on to users through higher internet prices.

What happened

On the morning of 26 September, Russia struck Kyiv data centers and telecommunications infrastructure for the second time in two days. The Cosmonova data center in the Solomianskyi district was hit again, damaging its core network and prompting the company to announce that DC|COSMONOVA would no longer operate due to the scale of destruction. Cosmonova said all client data had been preserved through geographic redundancy and that services continued on backup sites. The Kyiv internet provider Kolo.TB was hit for the third time, with chat, website, and phone services down and recovery estimated at several hours.

The strikes rippled into Ukrainian broadcasting. Novyny.LIVE suspended its television signal but said its website, Telegram, YouTube, and other digital platforms remained available, with restoration expected soon. Armia TV went off air because of technical problems linked to Russian shelling, continuing on YouTube and social media. My-Ukraina+ reported a temporary loss of signal citing the Cosmonova strike, and Pryamyi said its website was temporarily unavailable after a strike on the data center hosting its server. Kyiv24 warned of possible cable and online TV disruptions. Suspilne, the public broadcaster, said some video players on its website and the Suspilne Media Library and Brobaks sites were temporarily unavailable, with technical staff working on restoration.

The 26 September strikes were the latest in a series that began on 23 September, when Russian attacks damaged UTELS and Pavutyna data centers and hit a central traffic-exchange data center in Kyiv, causing outages for Crazy Network subscribers. On 24 September, equipment of CityHost.UA was destroyed, a data center hosting MiroHost's capacities was hit, and providers KIEVNET, Domonet, and FAUST were affected. On 25 September, the Cosmonova and Datagroup data centers were damaged. The Ministry of Digital Transformation said approximately 100,000 households in Kyiv and the region lost internet access. Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko reported that the overnight drone attack on 26 September also caused damage in four Kyiv districts, including a fire in Solomianskyi with four injured and a drone strike on the Auchan store in Lavina Mall in Sviatoshynskyi. After a 25 September Staff meeting, President Zelensky announced decisions to protect and ensure the continuous operation of data centers and other critical communications infrastructure.

How Ukrainian sources describe it

Ukrainian sources consistently identify Russia as the attacker and center coverage on the impact for Ukrainian TV channels, the public broadcaster Suspilne, and major internet providers. Reporting emphasizes service-continuity claims from affected companies — preserved client data, backup sites, restoration timelines — alongside statements by President Zelensky on protective measures and by Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko on damage in four Kyiv districts. Several outlets explicitly note that Cosmonova's DC|COSMONOVA facility was disabled entirely and that access was restricted even for the company's own specialists, underscoring the severity of the physical destruction.

Where reporting differs

Sources differ on how many Russian strikes the Cosmonova data center had received by 26 September: most describe two strikes (on 25 and 26 September), while one source reports three strikes. They also differ on Cosmonova's future status: the company itself said client data and services were preserved through geographic redundancy and backup sites, while other reporting said Cosmonova announced the data center itself would no longer operate due to the scale of destruction.

Background

The Cosmonova data center is located in the Business Park Protasov in Kyiv's Solomianskyi district, on Mykola Hrinchenko Street. ISW noted that Russian offensive operations in 2026 have not achieved their set goals, while Ukrainian forces have achieved operationally and strategically significant successes in 2026. Russia's Ministry of Defense claimed the goal of attacking data centers is to disrupt information transmission within Ukraine's Defense Forces; Ukrainian state authorities found no signs that the strikes damaged Armed Forces communications systems or any state institutions, according to ISW.