Data Centers Stop Working in Russia
Russian data centers owned by Yandex are not working now. Ukrainian drone strikes hit three centers. Payment apps, email, and navigation maps stop working. Many shops and banking systems have big problems. Experts say the Russian internet system is too centralized. Moving systems to other countries is very hard.
A big tech company works in Russia. The name of the company is Yandex. People call Yandex the Google of Russia. Yandex owns big computer buildings. People call these buildings data centers. Data centers hold many computers and help internet apps work. Now, three Yandex data centers do not work. Ukrainian drones hit these three places. The hits cause big problems. Russian payment apps do not work today. Email services do not work. Maps and banking apps stop working too. Online stores have big problems. People cannot order food or get taxis. Yandex helps many large shops and fast-food places. These shops also lose their computer systems. The first drone hits a center near Moscow on October 8. This center holds supercomputers. These supercomputers help build AI models. A second drone hits another center on October 9. This center is very large. A third drone hits a center on October 11. Yandex stops all work at this third place. Many people in Russia are angry. Russian writers talk about this issue. They say the digital system is too centralized. All services depend on a few big centers. This centralization creates a huge danger in war. Ukraine works differently. Ukrainian digital systems use many small parts. They are not in one single place. This structure helps Ukraine stay safe. Russia also has a special law. This law stops companies from using computer systems in other nations. So, Yandex cannot easily move its data to other countries. The digital economy in Russia faces great trouble now.
Take a position. Out loud, if you can.
Four ways to start. Pick one and try saying it before you scroll on.
Tip · Record yourself, use in a notebook, or practice with a language partner.
Which company owns the damaged data centers?
Present Simple for General Facts
We use the present simple tense to talk about true statements, facts, and permanent situations.
“Yandex owns big computer buildings.”
What to know · A1
Try saying this aloud
Scenario: Explaining basic service disruptions to a friend.
- 01“The app does not work today.”
- 02“We have big problems with internet.”
- 03“This payment system is stop working.”
Register tip · informal
🔑Key Phrases
Used to describe how an action leads to clear difficulties.
The heavy rain causes big problems for cars.
Shows reliance on central points.
All students depend on the central library.
Describes a current state of crisis.
The small company faces great trouble now.
💬Discussion Questions
Open-ended questions to talk or write about — alone, with a partner, or in class.
- 1
How often do you use digital payment apps in your life?
Personal - 2
What do you do when your internet service stops working?
Personal - 3
Is it better to have one big app or many small apps?
Compare - 4
Why are computers important for grocery stores and food delivery?
Opinion - 5
Will people rely more on smartphones in the future?
Predict - 6
How does an internet outage change daily plans for families?
Evaluate - 7
Should essential services like banks depend on digital networks?
Opinion - 8
What is the most useful smartphone application you own?
Personal
News sourced from: Ars Technica →. LectoPress rewrites the facts as original graded-reader text for language learners.
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