An outage in the .ru domain zone is being attributed to an issue with the software that signs data used by the .ru zone. This assessment came from Andrey Vorobyov, director of the Domain Names Coordination Center for .ru and .рф domains.
Experts from the Internet Technology Center and MSK-IX are currently examining the problem, working to identify the exact cause and its scope. Vorobyov emphasized that the explanation being offered is a preliminary assessment from early stages of the inquiry.
Users reported on the evening of January 30 that many Russian sites within the .ru domain zone were not loading. The incident was linked to data from the Downradar monitoring service, which tracks site availability and DNS health.
The Coordination Center for .ru/.рф domains provided a preliminary explanation that the outage stemmed from a technical issue within the global DNSSEC infrastructure, which secures domain data via digital signatures.
The head of the Ministry of Digital Development, Maksut Shadayev, announced that the ministry has opened an official investigation into the malfunction impacting the .ru zone.
Previously, Shadayev voiced support for strengthening cyber readiness in the country, including considerations around cyber defense capabilities. The current incident highlights the importance of robust DNS security and the swift coordination between technical specialists and government bodies to restore service and assess systemic risks.
As investigations continue, industry observers note the incident underscores the fragility of global DNS security mechanisms and the potential ripple effects on national online services. The situation remains under careful analysis by the Coordination Center and partner organizations to determine precise timelines, impact boundaries, and remediation steps.
Attribution: Ministry statements and updates from the Domain Names Coordination Center for .ru/.рф domains, with input from the Internet Technology Center and MSK-IX. Additional observations from Downradar data contributed to situational awareness and early findings.