Russia is currently exploring a new approach for safeguarding its critical digital infrastructure. Rostelecom, a telecommunications company, is in the process of establishing underground data centers designed to withstand external threats. The initiative is being launched in response to the increasing apprehension regarding the susceptibility of traditional data center facilities to physical attacks, particularly drone strikes that target strategic infrastructure.
In discussions with Norilsk Nickel, one of Russia’s largest mining and metals companies, Rostelecom is contemplating establishing underground data centers, according to the Russian newspaper Vedomosti. The facilities that have been suggested would offer a more robust level of physical protection for sensitive information systems and computing infrastructure.
The initiative is indicative of a more comprehensive transformation in Russia’s approach to digital infrastructure security, where conventional backup systems and geographically distributed computing facilities may no longer be deemed adequate for safeguarding the nation’s most critical digital assets.
Rostelecom’s Three-Level Protection Strategy
Rostelecom is contemplating a three-tiered approach to data center security.
Back-up facilities containing copies of critical information are established at the first stage. These facilities would enable the recovery of information and the restoration of essential digital services if the primary data center is unavailable or damaged.
The second stage entails implementing a distributed computing architecture. Operators would spread infrastructure and services across multiple geographically dispersed facilities, rather than consolidating computing resources in a single location. This would improve operational continuity and decrease reliance on individual installations.
The third and most advanced level entails developing underground data centers. Operators could improve their defenses against physical attacks and external threats by situating computing infrastructure beneath the surface.
The three levels are intended to work in tandem, integrating physical protection, geographical distribution, and data redundancy.
Drone Attacks Increase Security Concerns
The resurgence of interest in underground data centers responds to the increasing physical security challenges Russian digital infrastructure is encountering.
Drone attacks affected data center facilities operated by Yandex and Sber in October 2026. Sber confirmed an attack on its data center in Balakovo, Saratov region, while Yandex reported significant damage to its facility in Sasovo, Ryazan region. The incidents underscored the vulnerability of facilities supporting cloud computing, banking, telecommunications, and government services, even though digital services were not universally disrupted.
Additionally, the Ministry of Digital Development of Russia has been contemplating recommendations for classifying data centers based on their strategic significance. Underground, rock-based, and bunker-type facilities are among the proposed solutions for particularly critical installations.
This implies that underground construction could be integrated into a broader national strategy to safeguard critical computing infrastructure, rather than remaining a standalone commercial endeavor.
Why Norilsk Nickel Could Be an Important Partner
The reported discussions between Rostelecom and Norilsk Nickel are particularly iinteresting due to the fact that the two companies have complementary industrial capabilities.
Rostelecom’s capabilities encompass data center operations, cloud computing, and telecommunications. In contrast, Norilsk Nickel has extensive experience in managing intricate subterranean facilities, industrial engineering, and underground mining.
The potential exists to establish underground computing installations without the need to excavate wholly new facilities by using existing mining infrastructure. Subject to geological stability, ventilation, power availability, and other technical requirements, former mining chambers and subterranean industrial spaces may be assessed for potential conversion.
Additionally, the energy supply will be crucial. Substantial and uninterrupted electricity is necessary for contemporary data centers, particularly those that facilitate artificial intelligence and high-performance computation.
Nevertheless, the exact location, capacity, and construction schedule of the proposed project have not yet been publicly disclosed.
Underground Data Centres Already Exist Internationally
Rostelecom’s concept is not entirely new. Several nations have effectively converted underground industrial and military facilities into commercial data centers.
The Lefdal Mine Data Center in Norway is located within a former olivine mine. Its underground location offers considerable physical protection, while the nearby fjord provides access to cooling water. The facility illustrates the potential of repurposing abandoned mining infrastructure for the purpose of conducting large-scale digital operations.
Bahnhof Pionen in Sweden serves as an another example. The facility is located within a former Cold War civil-defence shelter that was excavated into granite beneath Stockholm. It serves as an example of how military infrastructure subjected to extreme conditions can be converted into a functional data center.
Iron Mountain maintains an underground data center in Pennsylvania, which was previously a limestone quarry, within the United States. These examples illustrate that subterranean computing facilities can be commercially viable when appropriate infrastructure and geological conditions are available.
Other Russian Operators Face the Same Challenge
Rostelecom is not the only entity that is reevaluating the security of its data centers. Physical protection and service continuity are critical industry-wide concerns because Yandex, Sber, and VK operate large digital infrastructure.
Russian operators are currently investigating additional protection measures, such as backup facilities, alternative computing arrangements, and equipment to mitigate drone threats. Nevertheless, there is no publicly confirmed announcement that Yandex, Sber, or VK are independently developing underground data centers that are comparable to the proposed Rostelecom initiative.
Cost and Engineering Challenges
While underground data centers present potential security benefits, they also present serious engineering challenges. According to estimates from the Russian industry, the cost of construction could be 30–40% higher than that of conventional facilities.
Excavation, structural reinforcement, waterproofing, ventilation, cooling, and emergency access all add to the complexity. Independent telecommunications connections and reliable utilities are equally critical.
Converting existing mines could potentially reduce construction costs; however, the practicality of such facilities would depend on their operational suitability and geological stability.
A New Direction for Russian Digital Infrastructure
Rostelecom’s initiative indicates the growing importance of physical security in Russia’s digital economy. The protection of the infrastructure underpinning artificial intelligence, cloud computing, banking, and government services is becoming a strategic priority as reliance on large computing facilities grows.
Collaboration with Norilsk Nickel has the potential to revolutionize Russian data center development by integrating underground engineering capabilities with telecommunications expertise.
The main question is whether underground facilities will be restricted to exceptionally sensitive installations or become a more extensive aspect of Russia’s digital infrastructure strategy.