Ukraine's Internet Connectivity: Challenges and Cable Infrastructure

Internet Connectivity of Ukraine: Cables and Landing Points

Ukraine's internet connectivity relies on three submarine cables with landing points in Odesa, Kerch, and Osovyny. The total length of the cables is 1,444 kilometers. The country's isolation index is rated at 60 out of 100, indicating relatively high infrastructure vulnerability due to the limited number of routes. The most significant project is the Kardesa cable, spanning 1,385 kilometers, which is planned to be operational by 2027. The other two cables, Kerch Strait Cable (46 km, RFS 2014) and Energy Bridge Cable (13 km, RFS 2017), have more localized importance and limited capacity.

Geographically, Ukraine is situated at the crossroads of routes between Europe and Asia, but its submarine infrastructure remains modest compared to neighboring countries. This makes the country reliant on terrestrial transit routes through neighboring states, increasing risks in the event of disruptions or blockages.

Traffic Control and Censorship

According to GeoCables, DNS censorship is absent in Ukraine: 0% of tests showed blocking or manipulation of requests. This indicates a lack of direct interference in internet traffic routing at the DNS level. However, in the context of known conflict-related events, temporary restrictions or slowdowns in accessing certain resources in specific regions should be considered.

State control over the internet in Ukraine has historically been minimal, but during the conflict, there have been attempts to regulate the information space, including blocking certain websites and services. These measures, however, are not reflected in GeoCables data, as they are not related to infrastructure changes or DNS filtering.

Conflict and Its Impact on Connectivity

Ukraine is in an active conflict zone, which creates additional risks for its internet infrastructure. GeoCables monitors 11 conflict zones, including Odesa, Mykolaiv, Dnipro, and Kharkiv. At the time of writing, the alert level in these regions is 0.000, indicating no current incidents affecting connectivity. However, in the past 60 days, events potentially impacting infrastructure have been recorded, including strikes on oil facilities and reports of fuel shortages in neighboring regions.

Terrestrial routes remain the most vulnerable, as they can be damaged due to military actions. Submarine cables, such as the Kerch Strait Cable, are also at risk due to their proximity to conflict zones.

Chokepoints and Vulnerabilities

The main risks to Ukraine's internet connectivity are associated with the limited number of submarine cables and their geographic locations. For example, the Kerch Strait Cable and Energy Bridge Cable are relatively short and serve localized routes, making them less significant for international connectivity. Kardesa, once operational, could significantly improve the situation by providing an additional data transmission route.

Ukraine also depends on terrestrial transit routes through neighboring countries such as Poland, Hungary, and Romania. Any disruptions along these routes could lead to significant internet access issues. Additionally, proximity to the Black Sea and conflict zones increases the likelihood of cable damage due to natural or man-made factors.

GeoCables Monitoring: What Is Under Observation

GeoCables actively monitors the status of submarine cables, including the Kerch Strait Cable, Energy Bridge Cable, and the future Kardesa. Conflict zones and their impact on internet connectivity are also being tracked. Under current conditions, special attention is given to regions with a high likelihood of infrastructure damage, such as Odesa and Mykolaiv.

Data on routes and cable conditions are updated in real time, enabling the timely detection of anomalies and risk mitigation. In the context of conflict, this is especially important for ensuring stable internet access both domestically and internationally.