Starting March 1, 2026, a new decree in Russia will come into force introducing rules for centralized management of the national communications network. The document, which will be in effect until 2033, essentially establishes the legal framework for isolating the Russian segment of the Internet from the global network.
In the event of “threats to the stability” of the Runet, the Ministry of Digital Development, Roskomnadzor, and the FSB will form a special interagency commission. This body will have the authority to implement centralized management measures, including traffic filtering, website blocking, and even full separation of the Russian Internet from the outside world.
The new decree expands the scope of the 2019 “sovereign internet” law, which allows traffic to be routed through control points and the creation of an autonomous DNS system. Now, control will be unified, with all decisions made by a single commission.
Among the reasons cited for imposing restrictions are cyber incidents, network node failures, data center malfunctions, or the “dissemination of prohibited information.”
In practice, the decree gives the Kremlin the ability to disconnect citizens from the global Internet, centrally block external information sources, and tighten control over the digital space. Its long-term duration indicates the government’s intention to establish a model of digital isolation for the country.
