The regulator will gain the right to block websites, redirect traffic, and completely disconnect the Russian segment of the network. It will be able to resort to such measures starting March 1 in the event of threats to "stability and security."
The Russian government has granted Roskomnadzor (RKN) the authority to restrict or completely disconnect Runet from the global internet. The corresponding "rules for centralized management of the public communication network" will come into effect on March 1, 2026, Russian media reported on Sunday, November 9, citing the relevant government decree.
According to the document, the regulator will be able to exercise its powers in the event of threats to the "stability, security, and integrity" of the functioning of the internet in Russia. Such threats include accidents and overloads of communication nodes, failures in the operation of critical facilities, cyberattacks, the spread of prohibited content, as well as disruptions in interaction between Russian and foreign networks and the inability to exchange information within the country.
Mandatory Commands
In the event of threats, RKN will have the right to issue mandatory commands to operators and providers: to restrict access to internet resources, redirect traffic through its own technical means, change data transmission routes, and activate filters. If necessary, the agency will be able to completely isolate the Russian segment of the network.
The incident response regulations will be approved in coordination with the Ministry of Digital Development and the FSB. Communication operators will be required to appoint responsible persons for interaction with Roskomnadzor and provide the technical capability to collect data on network operations.
Control and Possible Consequences
Service providers will be able to file complaints with Roskomnadzor if the agency's technical means block legal content. In certain cases, they will be allowed to temporarily route traffic around RKN's systems, provided that the regulator is notified.
Russian authorities explain the introduction of new rules by the "necessity to ensure the stability and integrity of the internet's operation." According to political scientist Ilya Graschenkov, with the implementation of the document, Russians should prepare for restrictions or instability in access to international resources.
"The new rules transition the Russian internet to a managed ecosystem mode, where control, security, and stability in terms of national interests become priorities. The likelihood of fragmentation of the Russian internet and its disconnection from the global network has now become quite real," the expert noted.
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