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Ukraine’s Kyivstar Boosts Backup Power as Russian Strikes Threaten Energy Grid

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Ukraine’s largest mobile operator Kyivstar is stepping up efforts to keep its telecommunications network running as renewed Russian attacks on energy infrastructure put mounting strain on the country’s fragile power grid, CEO Oleksandr Komarov told Reuters on Monday.

“Right now, we have more than 3,500 stationary generators connected to the network in real time,” Komarov said. “But the pressure on the energy infrastructure is also growing… The only answer we have is to increase the number of generators connected to the network.”

Russia’s latest barrage of drones and missiles on Saturday targeted nuclear substations and other critical energy sites, killing seven people. State-owned energy firm Tsentrenergo described it as the largest attack on its facilities since the war began in 2022.

Since the start of the invasion, Kyivstar has worked to harden its network against power outages. Core systems now have backup power for up to three days, while more than 90,000 connection boxes in apartment buildings are equipped with solutions that allow them to function for 10–12 hours during blackouts.

The upgrades are part of Kyivstar’s broader resilience plan to ensure continuity of service across Ukraine despite recurring infrastructure damage.

Meanwhile, Kyivstar — which became the first Ukrainian company listed on a U.S. stock exchange in August — continues to navigate geopolitical and market volatility.

Komarov said U.S. institutional investors see the company as “significantly undervalued” given the wartime context, while Veon, Kyivstar’s parent company, is working with Ukrainian authorities to enable local investors to buy shares.

Earlier Monday, Kyivstar reported a 20% increase in third-quarter revenue to $297 million, supported by steady macroeconomic conditions and international support that have helped stabilize Ukraine’s currency.

Poland warns of surge in Russian cyberattacks on critical infrastructure

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Poland is facing an unprecedented wave of cyberattacks, much of it traced to Russian military intelligence, according to the country’s digital affairs minister, Krzysztof Gawkowski. He told Reuters that Russia has tripled its cyber resources directed at Poland this year, targeting sectors vital to national security.

Of the 170,000 cyber incidents recorded in the first nine months of 2025, a “significant portion” was attributed to Russian state-linked actors, while the rest involved financially motivated cybercrime. Poland now faces 2,000–4,000 attacks daily, of which 700–1,000 pose real threats to key infrastructure, Gawkowski said.

The minister noted that Russian groups are expanding their focus beyond water and sewage systems to include energy networks, and warned that the activity is becoming more coordinated and sophisticated. “Russian activity is the most severe because it targets infrastructure essential to maintaining normal life,” he said.

A major escalation occurred on September 10, when a cyberattack coincided with a Russian drone strike, marking Poland’s largest coordinated digital assault since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022. False claims spread online that Ukraine had launched the drones, amplified by bot networks that had been dormant for years before suddenly reactivating.

Warsaw officials say Poland has become Russia’s top cyber target within NATO, due to its support for Kyiv and its strategic role in supplying Ukraine. The Russian embassy in Warsaw did not respond to requests for comment but has consistently denied involvement in cyber operations.

Russia Publishes List of Local Apps to Function During Internet Blackouts

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Russia’s Digital Development Ministry on Friday released a list of local apps and services that will remain operational during mobile internet shutdowns—blackouts authorities have often imposed to disrupt Ukrainian drone attacks.

The whitelist includes online government services, marketplaces, the Mir electronic payment system, and state-backed messenger MAX, but omits foreign rivals such as WhatsApp and YouTube, despite their massive popularity in Russia. According to Mediascope, WhatsApp had 97.6 million Russian users in July, making it the country’s most widely used app.

The ministry said a “special technical solution” would keep domestic apps running during shutdowns, claiming the move would minimize disruption for citizens while ensuring “security.” While Ukraine was not explicitly mentioned, governors in Russian border regions have repeatedly said temporary outages are needed to block drones from using mobile networks for navigation.

The decision also fits Moscow’s broader push since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine to expand control over its digital ecosystem and promote homegrown alternatives to foreign tech platforms. VK Group, the state-controlled tech company, has played a central role: its MAX messenger, now pre-installed on all phones sold in Russia, reported 30 million users this week, while its VK Messenger ranks third nationwide with 16.7 million users.

Meanwhile, Telegram, created by Russian-born Pavel Durov and used by 90.9 million Russians, was also excluded from the official list. Analysts see the move as a further attempt by the Kremlin to steer users toward domestically controlled services while sidelining foreign platforms that resist state oversight.