Organisations holding Russian domain names should be aware of important new verification requirements coming into effect from 1 September 2026.
Under new regulatory requirements, holders of .RU, .РФ and .SU domain names will be required to complete electronic identity verification through Gosuslugi, the Russian government’s digital identity portal.
The new verification requirements will apply when:
Registering new domains
Renewing existing domains
Updating registrant details
Managing DNS and other technical settings
Importantly, these requirements do not apply to third-level extensions such as .COM.RU, .NET.RU and similar domain extensions.
What does this mean for international organisations?
Verification through Gosuslugi requires eligible Russian government credentials. As a result, organisations located outside Russia may not be able to complete the verification process themselves.
Depending on their circumstances, affected domain holders may need to consider alternative arrangements, such as transferring the domain to an eligible Russian entity or engaging directly with an appropriate local provider.
Any organisation considering a relationship with a Russian provider should also ensure that applicable sanctions, payment restrictions and other legal requirements permit the arrangement.
What happens if no action is taken?
Domains that do not meet the new requirements by 1 September 2026 may be frozen by the registry.
Once frozen, affected domains may no longer be able to be renewed, transferred, updated or otherwise managed. They may subsequently expire at the end of their current registration period and potentially be permanently lost.
What should domain holders do?
Organisations with .RU, .РФ or .SU domains should ensure they understand how the new requirements apply to their registrations and determine the appropriate course of action before the 1 September 2026 deadline.
Brandsec has reviewed the domain portfolios under our management and has already contacted affected domain holders directly to advise them of the upcoming changes and discuss the available options.
If you hold a .RU, .РФ or .SU domain that is not currently managed by Brandsec, we recommend reviewing your registration arrangements as soon as possible to ensure you are prepared for the new requirements.
These changes also highlight the importance of proactively monitoring registry and regulatory developments across international domain portfolios. Brandsec continues to monitor these changes globally and work with our clients to help keep their domain portfolios compliant.
If you have any questions about the upcoming changes to .RU, .РФ or .SU domains, please contact the Brandsec team.
About brandsec
brandsec is a team of highly experienced domain name management and online brand protection experts. We provide corporate domain name management and brand enforcement services, helping brands eliminate phishing platforms across the internet. Supporting some of the largest brands in the region, we offer innovative solutions to combat threats across multiple industries.
