Threat Intelligence
VK users face outages after reported drone strike on data centre
VK, Russia's largest social network, saw major disruptions after a reported drone strike hit a key data centre near St. Petersburg. Thousands of users struggled to access services, though VK denies any impact.
Ross GrantUpdated 2 min read
The short version
VK, Russia's biggest social media site, had major outages after a reported drone strike hit one of its main data centres. Many users could not load news feeds, play music or use other features. VK says its services were not affected, but monitoring sites and users reported problems. The full impact of the attack is still unclear.
By the numbers
- 6,600user complaints about VK outages on DowndetectorRecorded Future News
- 2,100user complaints on Russian monitoring service SboyRecorded Future News
- 56%VK's network connectivity compared to normal during the incident (NetBlocks)Recorded Future News
- 20,000+servers reportedly housed in the affected data centreRecorded Future News
- 640server racks in the affected data centre (previously published figures)Recorded Future News
What happened?
VK, Russia's largest social network, experienced major service disruptions after a reported Ukrainian drone strike hit a key data centre near St. Petersburg on October 18. Thousands of users had trouble accessing VK's platforms, though VK denies any impact on its services. Independent monitoring sites recorded a surge in complaints and a sharp drop in network connectivity. The extent of the damage and the exact cause of the outages remain unclear.
Who is affected
VK, also known as VKontakte, is Russia's largest social media platform. The disruption affected users across Russia, with thousands reporting problems accessing VK's news feeds, music streaming, and other features. The outage also impacted related services, including the Odnoklassniki social network and Mail.ru email, all operated by VK. Outage-tracking sites Downdetector and Sboy recorded about 6,600 and 2,100 complaints respectively on Sunday. NetBlocks, an internet monitoring group, reported VK's network connectivity dropped to 56% of normal levels during the incident. By Monday, complaints had lessened, but some users still had trouble uploading photos, streaming music, logging in, and sending messages.
What was taken
There is no evidence or claim that user data was stolen or exposed in this incident. The affected data centre reportedly housed more than 20,000 servers in 640 racks and was responsible for storing and processing user content such as photos and videos. However, neither VK nor independent sources have confirmed any data loss or breach.
How the attack worked
According to Ukrainian drone manufacturer Fire Point, Ukrainian forces used FP-1 drones to strike several targets in the Leningrad region, including VK's data centre. Ukrainian media and open-source analysts reported significant damage to the building, including a partial roof collapse. These reports have not been independently verified. VK confirmed its facility was targeted overnight on October 18 but denied any effect on its services and did not disclose the extent of the damage or how many servers were affected. It remains unclear whether the disruptions were directly caused by the strike.
The response
VK stated that its services remained available as usual and did not confirm any service impact or data loss. The company has not provided details on the extent of the damage or the number of affected servers. Independent monitoring services and user complaints suggest there was a significant disruption, but the exact cause and scope remain uncertain. Ukrainian sources claim the data centre suffered major damage, but this has not been confirmed by VK or independent investigators.
Has this happened before?
The incident is part of a broader pattern of attacks on data centres in both Russia and Ukraine. Earlier in October, Ukrainian forces reportedly struck data centres belonging to Russian tech giant Yandex, causing widespread service issues. Russian state-owned Sberbank's data centre was also targeted in a separate attack. On the Ukrainian side, Russian missile strikes have damaged several data centres, including those operated by Datagroup, MiroHost, Parkovyi, UTELS and Pavutyna, with some facilities left beyond repair.
Claimed vs confirmed
- Denied
VK's services were not affected by the drone strike.
VK stated that its services remained available as usual, despite user complaints and monitoring data showing disruptions.
- Unconfirmed
The data centre suffered significant damage, including a partial roof collapse.
Ukrainian sources and open-source analysts reported major damage, but VK has not confirmed this and it has not been independently verified.
Why it matters
Attacks on data centres can disrupt online services for millions of users and may risk damage to user data or infrastructure. The incident highlights the growing use of physical attacks on digital infrastructure during conflicts, raising concerns for service reliability and business continuity.
Key points
- VK's main data centre was reportedly hit by a drone strike.
- Thousands of users experienced outages and service disruptions.
- VK denies any impact, but monitoring sites show a drop in connectivity.
- No evidence of data theft or exposure has been reported.
- Physical attacks on data centres are an increasing risk in conflict zones.
Sources
Recorded Future News
Reference
