Internet outages spread across Ukraine following Russian air strikes on critical infrastructure

KYIV, UKRAINE — Millions of Ukrainians have experienced internet disruptions over the last two days following Russian missile and drone strikes targeting critical infrastructure throughout the country. 

According to data from the internet monitoring service NetBlocks, national internet connectivity in Ukraine remains at 71% of ordinary levels as of Tuesday.

⚠ Confirmed: Metrics show internet connectivity levels have fallen in multiple regions of #Ukraine including Kyiv after a series of deadly Russian missile and drone attacks targeting energy infrastructure followed by emergency power shutdowns 📉 pic.twitter.com/PdSmrmRjVK

— NetBlocks (@netblocks) August 26, 2024

Ukraine has also introduced emergency power outages following large-scale Russian air strikes. In some cities, including Kyiv, electricity and even running water were out for nearly 12 hours.

On Monday, Russia fired 127 missiles and 109 drones at Ukraine — one of the largest and most expensive attacks since the war started three years ago. According to Forbes estimates, the strike cost Russia up to $1.3 billion.

On Tuesday, Russia launched 10 missiles and 81 drones against Ukrainian targets, mostly critical infrastructure, including a hydroelectric power plant, energy facilities and underground gas storage.

Due to power outages in Ukraine, the infrastructure of mobile operators has become dependent on batteries and generators installed at base stations. When base stations are overwhelmed by traffic, it could affect mobile connectivity for some users.

Russia is constantly trying to destroy Ukraine’s energy and internet infrastructure. Earlier in January, internet connectivity in Kyiv was “significantly” disrupted after dozens of Russian missiles hit the city. In October 2022, the country experienced a nationwide disruption in communication services after Russian missiles damaged some of its telecommunication infrastructure and energy facilities.

Russian users also frequently experience problems with accessing the internet and other digital services, often due to physical and cyberattacks by Ukraine.

Earlier this week, NetBlocks reported that internet connectivity collapsed in the city of Sevastopol amid reports of mass power outages in Russian-occupied Crimea. The regional Russian leadership claimed the incident was due to an emergency shutdown of Crimean energy distribution networks, but it could also be linked to Ukraine’s attacks on Crimea.