Mass Destruction of Data Center Infrastructure Observed in Russia, Reports Intelligence Agency

The Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service has revealed alarming trends regarding the infrastructure of data centers in Russia, indicating widespread destruction attributed to the aging of equipment. Over the last six months, there has been a marked rise in incidents occurring in small commercial data processing centers (DPCs) and local IT sites. This surge points to a massive wave of failures stemming from the basic wear of technology that has been in operation for 10 to 15 years.

Critical components of the infrastructure, such as batteries in uninterruptible power supply systems, diesel generators, and cooling systems, have reached the limits of their operational lifespan and have begun to fail. Market participants estimate that this issue has already affected approximately 20% of commercial data centers, which could lead to severe repercussions, including production shutdowns, logistical disruptions, failures of financial services, and widespread outages of digital systems.

Efforts at import substitution being undertaken in Russia are viewed as a forced compromise. Chinese and local analogs of equipment are not always compatible with the existing infrastructure and often fall short in terms of reliability. This situation only heightens the risk of new accidents occurring. Moreover, many companies lack the financial resources for extensive modernization, as their budgets have been significantly cut and costs continue to rise.

The situation with fiber optic networks, which were laid in the early 2000s, is similarly concerning. By 2025, the warranty period for most trunk cables along the 'west-east' route will expire, further complicating the scenario.

Consequently, Russia is compelled to operate on outdated equipment, seeking dubious workaround solutions while postponing the inevitable collapse, albeit temporarily, but with increasing risks, as emphasized by the Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service.

It is noteworthy that experts predict that due to the deep economic crisis, up to one-third of small and medium-sized enterprises in Russia may close in the near future. This indicates serious issues within the country's economy that could have far-reaching consequences.

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