In early December 2024, the Russian government conducted exercises to simulate disconnecting from the global Domain Name System (DNS). According to the Interfax news agency, these tests aimed to ensure the functionality of Russia’s information systems in the event of separation from the global internet.
Testing Internet Isolation: A 24-Hour Trial
Reports preceding Interfax’s announcement revealed that residents in Dagestan, Chechnya, and Ingushetia faced restrictions preventing access to foreign websites like Google and YouTube for about 24 hours. Social media platforms and messaging services such as WhatsApp and Telegram were also rendered inaccessible. Even some services provided by Russian-Dutch internet company Yandex were unreachable, despite attempts to access them via Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
According to Roskomnadzor, Russia’s Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, the exercise tested the security and stability of the “Runet” (Russia’s internet segment). A report distributed on Telegram explained:
“The purpose of the exercise is to confirm the readiness of Russia’s internet infrastructure to maintain the availability of critical domestic and foreign services in the event of a deliberate external attack.”
The press service also noted that these annual exercises align with a Russian government decree issued on October 12, 2019, requiring regular checks of the internet’s resilience.
Tighter Regulations and Threats to Foreign Hosting Providers
Roskomnadzor has also warned of potential future restrictions against several foreign hosting providers, including GoDaddy, Amazon Web Services, HostGator, Kamatera, Ionos, Network Solutions, DigitalOcean, and Hetzner Online. The agency claims these companies failed to meet regulatory requirements, which include:
• Ensuring information security within their infrastructure.
• Collaborating with Russia’s monitoring and control center to counter DDoS attacks.
• Participating in exercises to ensure the stability of the Russian internet segment.
• Registering with Roskomnadzor as official hosting providers.
A Push Towards Domestic Hosting
These measures are part of a broader effort to encourage Russian citizens to migrate their websites from foreign to domestic hosting providers. Recent investments of approximately $648 million by the Kremlin aim to develop the technical capabilities to restrict internet traffic and incentivize a shift from Western social media platforms to domestic alternatives under tighter control.
Limited Access to Free Information
Even before these developments, Russia lacked the free internet access seen in many Western countries. Hosting providers in Russia are required to verify user identities through methods such as mobile phone numbers or the state-run Unified System of Identification and Authentication (ESIA), which incorporates biometric identification.
Sources: heise.de, understandingwar.org, interfax.ru, independent research
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