Data shows that the share of .ru among newly registered domains dropped from 70.8% in 2023 to 64.2% this year—a decline of 6.6%.
According to Kommersant citing Yandex statistics, Russian internet users are increasingly registering websites outside the national .ru zone.
The Cyrillic national domain .рф also decreased by 3% over the past two years, now accounting for just 5.6% of new sites. Meanwhile, so-called “alternative” domains such as .online, .space, and .site have gained popularity.
Even the .com domain, traditionally associated with the United States, has grown more common in Russia, rising by 0.8% over two years to reach 9%.
Industry experts attribute this shift to restrictions imposed by international registrars, who have scaled back services for Russian clients. Nikita Tsaplin, CEO of hosting provider RUVDS, explained that alternative domains are often more appealing from a marketing perspective, particularly for Russian companies maintaining ties with foreign partners.
These domains are generally less regulated and may offer simpler requirements. Denis Kuskov, head of Telecom Daily, added that the trend is likely to continue, with alternative domains steadily expanding their share.
Despite this movement, analysts emphasize that the .ru zone remains dominant, covering Russian websites. According to domain registrar Runity, the total number of registered .ru domains may soon exceed 6 million.
Earlier, Russian-installed authorities in occupied Crimea warned residents of a potential indefinite shutdown of mobile internet, citing “security concerns” and the threat of further Ukrainian attacks.
Source: https://united24media.com/
