Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a new decree allowing the temporary use of data center capabilities located outside Russian territory, in a move aimed at ensuring the continuity of the country's information and communications technology infrastructure. This decision comes in light of increasing security challenges facing local technical facilities.
Implementation and oversight mechanism
According to the decree published on the official legal information portal, the use of foreign data centers will not be universally available but will be subject to strict oversight. Activating this measure requires the approval of a special government commission, in addition to obtaining a security clearance from the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). The decree also mandates that private sector Russian data center operators allocate 10% of their current capacity as a strategic reserve to ensure network stability.
Why does this news matter?
This step comes as a direct response to the pressures facing Russia's digital infrastructure. In October 2026, Yandex announced that its data centers in the cities of Sasovo, Kaluga, and Vladimir were subjected to drone attacks, which led to a complete cessation of operations at some sites and the disruption of parts of the infrastructure at others. The decree aims to provide rapid technical alternatives in the event of recurring incidents that threaten the availability of digital services.
Technical context and limitations
The decree clearly indicates that these measures are a response to what Russian authorities described as "unfriendly actions" by some foreign countries, reflecting a trend toward securing digital sovereignty through the diversification of hosting sources. However, this decision raises questions about data security and privacy when moving operations across borders, which explains the requirement for Federal Security Service (FSB) approval before any data transfer or reliance on external infrastructure.