GoKawiilZelensky says Ukrainian strikes on Yandex data centers cut bot activity, coincide with drop in Musk's X engagement
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said last week's three strikes on Russian company Yandex's data centers reduced bot activity across social media, saying platforms felt less divisive and less manipulated as a result. Separately, X users and tech commentators noted that Elon Musk's post engagement numbers dropped sharply in the days following the strikes, with daily like averages falling from tens of thousands to under 5,000 on some posts.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The timing suggests a possible link between coordinated bot networks and inflated engagement on X, though no technical evidence has been presented confirming the data centers hosted bots targeting Musk's account specifically. If confirmed, it could indicate how much of the platform's activity, including interactions with its owner, may be artificially amplified rather than organic. The episode also underscores the growing strategic importance of data centers as military targets in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and beyond.
- Zelensky claims strikes on Yandex data centers reduced bot activity and online division
- Musk's average daily likes reportedly fell sharply in the days after the strikes
- No confirmed technical link has been established between the data centers and Musk's X engagement
Source: futurism.com — Victor Tangermann, 2026-10-13
Published there as: “Eyebrows Raise When Elon Musk’s Twitter Engagement Shrivels After Destruction of Russian Data Centers”
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