As of March 1, 2026, Roskomnadzor will officially be able to ‘disconnect’ Russia from the global internet for security purposes. The government has approved new rules giving the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media, Roskomnadzor, and the Federal Security Service the ability to control the country’s internet infrastructure in the event of external threats. According to TASS, complete isolation from the global network is not being considered as it could pose problems for the Russian segment of the internet.
The Russian government has officially established a mechanism for complete disconnection from the global internet. The new rules introduce two categories of threats that could lead to ‘manual control’ of the internet. The first is external attacks, such as attempts to cut off Russia from the global network. The second is internal failures.
In the event of a disruption in international digital connections, authorities will be able to block data transmission between Russian and foreign users. The regulation of the Russian internet is now in the hands of three agencies – the Ministry of Digital Development, Roskomnadzor, and the Federal Security Service. They have been given the authority to issue mandatory instructions to communications operators and traffic exchange points, essentially centralizing control over internet communications in the country.
As of March 1, 2026, Roskomnadzor will have expanded powers to control Russia’s internet segment. Under the new rules, the agency can block internet resources, filter traffic, redirect data through state servers, and issue mandatory directives to communication operators. The key innovation is the right to shift the Russian internet to centralized control mode, aiming to ensure digital sovereignty and protection from external threats. The measures are designed to guarantee the uninterrupted and secure operation of the internet across the country.
Since 2019, annual exercises have been conducted in Russia to test internet autonomy, where operators assess performance while fully isolated from the global network. This mechanism has now been officially formalized. During ‘manual control,’ all traffic will be redirected through TSPU – technological means of countering threats, known as ‘black boxes,’ for deep traffic analysis already installed at communication operators.
Regulators also now have the ability to block entire traffic directions – for example, completely ceasing data exchange with servers from certain countries or international corporations. The ultimate measure remains the complete isolation of the Russian internet segment from the global network space in the event of a threat to online safety for Russians.
In July 2023, Russia conducted practical exercises in autonomous internet operation, testing the functioning of the Russian segment in conditions of complete disconnection from the global network. Roskomnadzor confirmed the successful completion of the tests. These exercises were a practical implementation of the legislation on the ‘sovereign Runet,’ showcasing the readiness of authorities to transition the Russian internet segment into autonomous operational mode at any time.
The technical feasibility of disconnecting Russia from the global internet continues to be discussed by experts. Some specialists doubt the practicality of a complete disconnection from the global network. Experts believe a development similar to the Chinese scenario is more likely – establishing a national segment with access control. Business lawyer Tatiana Karkhaleva stated that full isolation is unlikely due to catastrophic economic consequences, as many industries rely on international digital services.
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