Ukrainian hackers disrupt Russian data centers, locking citizens out of accounts

Ukrainian hackers knocked out key Russian data centres on Oct. 12, leaving tens of thousands of citizens unable to access bank accounts or log into apartment‑building portals, officials said. The outage spread across Moscow, St Petersburg and several regional hubs, and users reported error messages when trying to check balances, pay bills or open building doors that rely on digital authentication.

The strike marks the first publicized cyberattack on Russia’s core data‑hosting infrastructure since the war began in 2022. Ukraine has increasingly turned to cyber tools to disrupt Russian logistics, finance and civil services, a strategy that complements its conventional military campaign. Western intelligence agencies have warned that Russia’s heavy reliance on cloud‑based platforms makes it vulnerable, especially as sanctions have forced many Russian firms to consolidate services on a handful of domestic providers.

Banking giant Sberbank confirmed that its online systems were offline for several hours, affecting roughly 1.2 million accounts. The housing‑management software used by dozens of municipal apartment complexes also failed, leaving residents locked out of elevators and unable to receive electronic notices. Ukrainian cyber‑unit “Cyber ​​Horizon” claimed responsibility, saying the operation aimed to “expose the fragility of Russia’s digital backbone.” Russian officials condemned the attack as “illegal hacking” and promised a “swift and decisive” response, while cybersecurity experts warned that further strikes could target energy grids and transport networks.

Restoring services will take days, as Russian technicians rebuild damaged servers and replace compromised hardware. The government has urged citizens to use cash and phone‑based verification until systems are repaired. Analysts say the attack could pressure Moscow to harden its cyber defenses and may prompt retaliatory strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure or allied Western targets. The incident underscores how digital warfare is becoming a central front in the conflict, with civilian services now caught in the crossfire.