Expanded share of non-standard domain zones within Russia reaches 21.2%

In the digital sphere of Russia, a notable change has been unfolding. The once dominant .ru domain, which hosts over 64% of Russian websites, has seen a significant drop, falling to around 64.2% by August 2025. This decrease represents a drop of 4.2% from 2024 and 6.6% from 2023.

Simultaneously, the use of alternative domain names has surged. Since 2023, the utilization of such domains when registering new websites has increased by 9%, reaching 21.2% by August 2025. The most popular alternative domains are .online, .space, and .site, according to recent data.

The .com domain, a staple in the global web, hosts 8.3% of Russian websites, while the second Russian domain, .рф, decreased to 5.6% over the same period. This shift away from traditional domains is a reflection of the evolving Russian web landscape.

The Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia is responsible for enforcing these changes. As of September 1, 2025, amendments will prohibit the distribution of advertising on websites banned in Russia, including social networks. A similar ban is already in effect for advertising on resources of "foreign agents". Violators, including advertisers and advertising distributors, face fines.

From September 1, amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses will also impose penalties on internet users for searching for prohibited materials. These measures are part of a broader effort to regulate the Russian internet and combat piracy.

Interestingly, there are no specific publicly available reports identifying Russian companies or projects explicitly planning to increasingly register new websites with alternative top-level domains like .online, .space, .site, or .pro in the near future.

In the business realm, VK, a popular Russian social network, experienced a significant financial loss in 2024, with losses tripling to 94.9 billion rubles. This financial strain could potentially influence the company's future domain registration decisions.

Despite the decline in new registrations for the .ru domain, it remains the leader in the number of registrations of new pirate websites in Russia as of spring 2025, with a share of 22.8% of all new platforms related to pirate content. This underscores the importance of continued vigilance and enforcement in the fight against online piracy.

Despite the changes, 72.7% of all existing Russian websites are still hosted in the .ru zone, indicating a slow but steady shift towards alternative domains for new websites. This shift, while significant, is a testament to the dynamic nature of the Russian web landscape.