Russia is preparing a major shift in its internet policy that could significantly impact owners of .Ru domain names. According to a report by state news agency TASS, the country’s communications regulator Roskomnadzor is working to restrict the use of foreign hosting providers for websites operating under the .Ru extension.
The proposed move is based on Federal Law No. 406-FZ, which requires hosting providers to ensure cybersecurity standards within their infrastructure and cooperate with the Center for Monitoring and Control of the Public Communications Network (CMCN PPCN) in mitigating DDoS attacks. Roskomnadzor claims that several foreign providers have failed to meet these requirements.
As a result, the agency recommends that .Ru websites be hosted by organizations that are registered in Russia and fully compliant with national regulations. While the measure has yet to be officially enacted or given a timeline, its implementation could mean that all .Ru domain content must be hosted on Russian servers — effectively shutting out foreign hosting providers.
This wouldn’t be without precedent. Similar hosting rules already exist for .Kz domains in Kazakhstan, where localized hosting is mandatory.
For .Ru domain owners, especially those with active and localized content, this development may necessitate a quick migration to a Russian hosting provider if the proposed restrictions are formalized. For now, there is no official deadline, but the regulatory momentum suggests change is imminent.
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