MediumII Cyber Warfare & Critical Infrastructure2 November 2026, Monday
Putin makes private data centres reserve 10% of capacity for the state
A decree Putin signed on 2 November requires Russia's non-state data centres to set aside 10% of their capacity for the state's IT infrastructure. Operators have been given 10 days to comply.
According to UNITED24 Media, citing Astra, the reserved capacity must be opened to state information resources within 24 hours once a government subcommission, still to be set up, decides so. Until a call comes, operators may use the capacity themselves. Access will be paid for, with the subcommission setting a price cap. The Ministry of Digital Development will draw up an inventory of the country's spare floor space and computing capacity.
The decree also allows state information resources to use data centres abroad on a temporary basis, subject to FSB approval. It follows Ukrainian drone strikes on three Yandex data centres in October. The Moscow Times, citing Reuters, wrote that the aim is rapid access to idle capacity when needed.
The decree's official number, the number of facilities it covers and Russia's total data-centre capacity could not be verified. Neither of the two sources reviewed contains any data on insurance cover or war exclusions for Russian data centres. Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev said on 16 October that joint data-infrastructure projects with the United States had been discussed.
Talay assessment
Bottom line
The decree gives the state a legal basis to use private capacity as a backup network against Ukrainian strikes on data centres. A mandatory 10% reserve could cut the capacity commercial operators can sell and push them to pass the cost into prices. Talay's reading is that the measure makes digital infrastructure more visible on the military target list.
Likely effects
- Russian cloud marketNegative1–6 months
Keeping 10% of capacity on call narrows the space available to commercial customers and could push prices higher.
- Targeting riskNegative1–6 months
Tying private data centres to state infrastructure could make them more legitimate targets for Ukrainian strikes.
Possibilities, ranked
- 1Capacity is called up50%
After a fresh strike on a data centre, the subcommission issues its first call and the 24-hour rule is applied.
Watch: Creation of the subcommission and its first capacity call
- 2It stays on paper35%
The inventory and price cap are set, but no call is made if the strikes stop.
Watch: The Ministry of Digital Development's inventory report
- 3Shift to capacity abroad15%
With FSB approval, state resources begin moving to data centres outside Russia.
Watch: An announcement of FSB-approved hosting abroad
Probabilities are calibrated judgement based on the sources, not measurement, and are revised as new information arrives. Not investment advice.
Market reaction
Indicators affected
- Capacity reserved for the state▼ 10%
- Access deadline▼ 24 hours