Russian authorities conducted a temporary disconnection of the country from the global internet as part of a legally mandated test, according to a report by media outlet RBK. The test aimed to assess whether domestic networks could function autonomously. The disconnection occurred between Tuesday and Wednesday, during which the media regulator Roskomnadzor evaluated the performance of Russian sites and network-dependent services in the event of a complete disconnection from abroad.
A representative from Roskomnadzor confirmed the success of the exercise. As per the 2019 Sovereign Internet Law, such tests are mandated at least once a year. However, the representative did not disclose the specific objectives of the drill. To explain the purpose of the exercise, a telecom executive compared it to testing bulletproof vests by shooting at mannequins.
Telecom experts highlighted the importance of testing Russia’s ability to continue functioning independently in the event of a disconnection from the global network. Alexander Dvoryansky, an executive at Sitronics Group, pointed out that since the root servers are controlled by the United States, Russia must consider the possibility of being disconnected. Alexander Lyamin, the founder of Qrator Labs, agreed with the necessity of conducting such tests.
The 2019 law also aimed to establish Russia’s own national Domain Name System (DNS), which would store all domain names and associated IP addresses while providing cryptographic data protection. It granted Roskomnadzor the authority to install special equipment on network nodes to override routing. This technology has been used to target platforms and content prohibited in Russia. However, officials have emphasized that it will not reach the level of China’s “Great Firewall.”
Aleksandr Khinshtein, chair of the State Duma’s Information Policy and Communications Committee, reassured that Russia has no intention of completely isolating itself from the world like China. He stated that using online gateways, as China does, is not the proposed approach. Khinshtein expressed confidence that this scenario would not occur for various reasons.
However, executives interviewed by RBK pointed out that many Russian businessmen had doubted the likelihood of the West blocking payment processing systems or Russian banks’ access to SWIFT. These events did occur last year, causing concern among some.
In conclusion, Russian authorities conducted a temporary disconnection from the global internet to assess the country’s ability to operate independently. This test, mandated by the Sovereign Internet Law, aimed to evaluate the performance of Russian networks and services in the absence of international connectivity. Telecom experts stressed the importance of such tests given Russia’s reliance on global infrastructure controlled by other countries. While Russia aims to establish its own national DNS system, officials have dismissed comparisons to China’s strict internet censorship.
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