In recent days, Russian internet services have faced substantial disruptions, the root cause being linked to foreign server infrastructures that many local companies rely on. According to Roskomnadzor, the regulator of communication in Russia, this unresolved dependency on foreign servers led to widespread failures, prompting them to recommend that domestic organizations transition their operations to Russian hosting providers.
On March 20, 2025, users across the Siberian and Ural Federal Districts reported severe outages affecting a variety of services, including major social media platforms like WhatsApp and VKontakte, popular games such as Genshin Impact and Roblox, along with streaming services like Twitch. This situation cast a shadow on Russia's ongoing efforts for network sovereignty, as users struggled with problems that state authorities have alternately described as severe and systemic.
Roskomnadzor’s spokespeople described the inoperability of these services as directly linked to ongoing issues in the foreign server infrastructure on which many of these services depend. “The inoperability of some Russian services is associated with the use of foreign server infrastructure, on which failures are being fixed,” said Roskomnadzor, emphasizing that immediate action is required to alleviate these issues.
Additionally, the Russian government plans to conduct a series of inspections in the coming month to evaluate the extent to which local services rely on foreign infrastructure. “The inspections are necessary for the development of measures to improve the stability and security of critical services in order to ensure network sovereignty,” a representative from Roskomnadzor stated.
This systematic vulnerability in Russia’s internet services was starkly illustrated when users in regions like Bashkortostan found themselves unable to pay for bus travel using QR codes, omitting the basic functionality most expect from modern technology. Although outages were first confirmed earlier, it appears that older dependencies on foreign technologies resurged once again during critical moments, largely due to the blocking of Cloudflare services—an essential network platform previously relied upon for security and resource access.
Cloudflare's role in safeguarding services became pivotal and its recent restrictions drawn attention to the fragility of these interdependencies within Russian digital services. According to the Telegram channel Ostorozhno, novosti, after the blocking of Cloudflare, users claimed that they “do not have access to 90% of the Internet,” underscoring how vital this service has been to their online activities.
Moreover, complaints flooded in not just about Russian services but also about foreign platforms that were significantly affected. Both users and officials have urged the need to rally behind domestic hosting solutions as a pathway to rebuild a resilient internet structure in Russia.
As part of their response strategy, Roskomnadzor emphasized the immediate transition to Russian hosting providers as a crucial step toward ensuring uninterrupted operation of internet services. “We recommend that domestic organizations use the capacities of Russian hosting providers,” read a statement from Roskomnadzor. This advice aligns with broader legislative moves aimed at increasing the sovereignty of Russia's digital framework.
The proposed inspections and recommendations are expected to serve several purposes: enhancing the framework of state control over the digital space, fostering infrastructural growth inside Russia, and navigating the complexities presented by reliance on foreign technology. This tutorial approach by Roskomnadzor indicates a long-term shift toward enhancing national cybersecurity and self-sufficiency in digital services.
Long before these outages, many in the industry and public domains were voicing concerns regarding the recurrent failures linked to foreign server dependence. The recent disruptions have catalyzed discussions about the critical need for Russia to strengthen its hosting capabilities and create an independent internet structure. As widespread dissatisfaction grew among users and criticisms lingered, Roskomnadzor's continuing focus will undoubtedly put pressure on internet service providers to comply with domestic hosting requirements sooner rather than later.
Challenges persist, particularly when addressing the widespread clamor for speed and accessibility in the face of draconian internet regulations. Those in favor of the new measures will argue that establishing a fully domestic infrastructure will mitigate risks of disruption from external influences.
Commenting on the urgency of this situation, State Duma deputy Andrei Svintsov highlighted the essential need for Russian companies to abandon foreign hosting as swiftly as possible. His remarks reflect a growing sentiment that moving towards local hosting capabilities is fundamental to Russia’s digital security.
In conclusion, the disruption of services has sparked broader discourse concerning the future of Russian internet infrastructure and the pressing need for a cohesive strategy that favors domestic operations, thus ensuring that failures like those experienced recently may be curtailed significantly. What remains to be seen is how efficiently these recommendations will be adopted and how they will redefine access to digital services for millions of Russians.
