'Data centers can be located in exhausted open pits': Russia eyes 300-meter-deep coal mines to shield server infrastructure from Ukrainian drones

Date:
Wed, 21 Oct 2026 22:20:00 +0000

Description:
Russia is considering abandoned coal mines for data centers, citing potential security and cooling benefits amid drone attacks and infrastructure concerns.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Russia proposes abandoned coal mines as potential sites for future data centers Some exhausted open pits reach depths of approximately 300 metres Accumulated mine water could offer another option for cooling infrastructure Russia is considering abandoned
coal mines as potential locations for data centers, following reported damage to digital infrastructure during Ukrainian drone attacks.

Ilya Seredyuk, governor of the Kemerovo region, has proposed using exhausted mining sites for computing facilities, cryptocurrency operations and other infrastructure. The idea could reduce construction expenses while providing additional physical protection for servers against attacks from above. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: Abandoned mines offer space and potential protection Seredyuk introduced the proposal during the recent Russian Energy Week, arguing that instead of spending money to reclaim the mines, they could just build new facilities.

Some former open pits reach about 300m deep, creating substantial vertical space for infrastructure without requiring conventional surface construction across large areas. You may like China is shifting its new data centers to rural Eastern locations as it looks for extra AI power US, Russia to collaborate on nuclear-powered data centers as part of a 'joint project' on small-scale power plants Russian bot traffic decimated overnight after
Ukraine drone strikes knock multiple Yandex data centers offline

Seredyuk also suggested that accumulated mine water and underground waterways could help lower cooling expenses.

At the moment, this is simply a proposal and the technical feasibility of
such a project remains uncertain. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news
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The governor suggested covering underground installations with roofs and developing landscaped areas above them, potentially creating parks across reclaimed mining properties.

Such arrangements could conceal server buildings from direct observation, although landscaping alone would not establish meaningful protection against aerial surveillance or precision attacks.

Modern commercial and hyperscale data centers are increasingly treated as legitimate military and strategic targets because they run cloud computing, AI, surveillance, and military-logistics networks. What to read next These
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Consequently, developing public parks above underground server facilities could expose civilians, including children, to potential risks if those installations became targets.

Russia's struggling coal industry could also benefit if abandoned mining properties attracted investment for alternative industrial uses.

However, converting deep open pits into dependable computing facilities would require substantial engineering assessments covering structural stability, water management, electricity supply, ventilation and emergency access.
Yandex incidents expose infrastructure vulnerabilities The proposal comes
amid concerns about attacks on Russia's digital infrastructure, including facilities operated by Yandex, one of the country's major technology companies.

Reports said a drone attack sparked a fire at a Yandex data center in Sasovo, within the Ryazan region, on October 8 2026.

Yandex subsequently suspended operations at the affected facility, although the company did not publicly confirm the full extent of the reported damage.

The incident raised questions about the vulnerability of concentrated computing infrastructure during continuing hostilities between Russia and Ukraine.

Russian outlet Verstka also reported that Yandex had obscured four cloud data center locations on its mapping service.

Those facilities were identified as being in Mytishchi, Kaluga, Vladimir and Sasovo, although concealing map locations does not establish that every site suffered damage.

Moving data centers underground could introduce new engineering difficulties, particularly where groundwater accumulates, or mining operations have
weakened surrounding rock.

Reliable computing facilities also require continuous electricity, redundant connectivity, fire suppression, and accessible maintenance routes, regardless of their physical depth.

All these factors would need careful assessment before Russia could determine whether abandoned coal mines offer a practical alternative to conventional data center sites.

Via United24media Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/data-centers-can-be-located-in-exhausted-open-pi ts-russia-eyes-300-meter-deep-coal-mines-to-shield-server-infrastructure-from- ukrainian-drones


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