Russian internet users faced significant disruptions this week, particularly affecting popular services like TikTok, Steam, Epic Games, and various banking apps. The outages were initially attributed to issues with foreign server infrastructure, but local experts argue that they were the result of Russia’s ongoing effort to block Cloudflare, a U.S.-based content delivery network (CDN). Cloudflare provides crucial services for websites, including improving security, speeding up loading times, and ensuring accessibility during cyberattacks, making its potential blocking a significant issue for many platforms in Russia.
The disruptions had widespread effects, impacting not only entertainment and social media platforms but also essential services like banking and government portals. Russian users reported issues accessing apps for major financial institutions such as Sberbank, Gazprombank, and Alfa-Bank, as well as the Russian government’s online portal. Messaging services like Telegram and WhatsApp also faced interruptions. In response, Roskomnadzor, Russia’s internet regulatory body, acknowledged the outages and suggested that local businesses should consider using Russian hosting services as alternatives to foreign providers like Cloudflare.
This outage appears to be part of a broader strategy by Russia to restrict foreign influence on its internet infrastructure.
In February, Russia added Cloudflare to its “surveillance register,” which compels companies to share user data, including communications, with Russian authorities. Cloudflare has resisted these demands, which has led to increased pressure on the service. Russian authorities are reportedly testing the effectiveness of these measures, which could result in a more severe and permanent ban of Cloudflare’s services in the country.
If Russia were to fully block Cloudflare, it would mark a significant escalation in the country’s censorship efforts and digital isolation.
Cloudflare controls roughly 44% of the CDN market in Russia, meaning that a ban would severely disrupt many services. While there are alternatives, none are as effective or as widely used as Cloudflare, and switching would incur substantial costs. Experts warn that this shift could make Russia’s internet more vulnerable to cyberattacks and further tighten the government’s control over online content and communication, signaling a new era of censorship on the Russian internet.
