Russia Requires Data Centre Operators to Reserve Capacity

Reform.news Editorial Team · 3 November 2026, 08:45

https://reform.news/en/russia-requires-data-centre-operators-to-reserve-capacity/

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree requiring owners of data centres located in the country to reserve 10% of their available floor space and capacity within 10 days.

The requirement does not apply to data centres owned by government authorities or state and municipal enterprises and institutions. The decree states that the measure is being introduced in response to “unfriendly actions by certain foreign states”.

Data centre owners may use the reserved capacity, but a government subcommittee can require them to make it available within 24 hours at rates set by the same subcommittee. It will also be able to authorise the temporary use of computing capacity outside Russia, provided the decision is approved by the Federal Security Service (FSB).

It is worth recalling that in early October, the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked three major Yandex data centres, disrupting the company’s services. The Sber data centre was targeted in a subsequent attack.