.ru Identifies Russia: Registration Rules and Practical Checks

.ru identifies Russia in the domain name system. The extension is a country-code top-level domain, or ccTLD. IANA lists .ru as an active Latin-script ccTLD. IANA names the Coordination Center for TLD RU as the manager.

Registration requires more than an available name. Russia introduced government registration rules in September 2026. Identity verification now deserves a separate place in a buyer’s checklist.

.ru and .рф use separate naming rules

Under section II of Government Resolution No. 1119, a .ru second-level label must:

• Contain 2–63 characters.
• Use Latin letters, digits, and hyphens.
• Start and end with a letter or digit.
• Avoid hyphens in both the third and fourth positions.

The Cyrillic extension .рф is separate. The government rules give .рф its own permitted character requirements and a 63-character limit for the Punycode representation. Registering a .ru name does not register a matching .рф name.

For a business, the choice starts with the audience and the spelling customers can enter. A Russia-focused address can suit a local website. Compare a separate international address when the same business serves several markets.

Applicants must confirm the identity process before payment

The Coordination Center’s September 2 announcement identifies the new government rules and the registrar transition. Resolution No. 1119 took effect on September 1, 2026.

Paragraphs 9–13 require a registration contract, accurate applicant information, and identification through the unified identification and authentication system, ESIA. Individual information includes identity-document details, residence details, contact information, and an ESIA account identifier. The rules also specify information for legal entities, including foreign legal entities.

The reference to foreign entities does not guarantee that every applicant can complete registration. Ask the chosen registrar how the identity process applies to the exact applicant. Confirm required documents, account requirements, and the person who will hold administration rights.

A provider’s checkout availability does not answer every registration question. Request confirmation before committing a business name, printing materials, or moving email.

Annual identity verification requires a separate deadline

Paragraphs 28–34 of Resolution No. 1119 condition administration rights on annual identification. The rules provide advance email notices and a 30-day preferential period after the annual identification date. Failure to identify before that period ends leads to cancellation under the stated procedure.

Do not confuse annual identity verification with a registrar’s renewal invoice. Ask the registrar to confirm both requirements and both deadlines. Keep the registrant’s email address accessible and update applicant information when details change.

Older guidance can describe only the previous one-year registration and renewal cycle. The English registry PDF still shows a 2021 version. Use the current Russian document directory when checking the applicable rules.

Registration does not guarantee uninterrupted delegation

Registration records a domain in the registry. Delegation enables the domain’s DNS addressing. The government rules treat registration and delegation as separate operations.

Sections VIII and XI of Resolution No. 1119 describe grounds for stopping delegation and cancelling registration. Grounds include specified official requests and decisions. A registered name therefore does not guarantee that a website will remain reachable under every circumstance.

Name selection also remains the applicant’s responsibility. Paragraphs 7–8 address third-party rights, prohibited names, and the stop-list. Check relevant names and trademarks before registration. An availability result does not establish a right to use a name.

For a dispute, consult the registry’s dispute procedure and obtain advice appropriate to the claim. Do not assume a procedure used for another extension also governs .ru.

The registrar must explain service and payment conditions

The registry sets common registration rules. The registrar supplies the customer contract, service procedures, and retail terms. The registry rules, paragraphs 2.1–2.7, explain that relationship and require accurate service information.

Before ordering, obtain clear answers to five questions:

1. Which organization will register and maintain the name?
2. Can the named applicant complete the current identity requirements?
3. What do registration, renewal, and additional services cost?
4. How will the registrar handle verification notices and missed deadlines?
5. Which transfer, cancellation, and dispute procedures apply?

Check the provider’s current contract and accepted payment methods directly. This page does not establish whether a particular provider can serve a particular customer. Choose .ru only after the name, applicant, and continuing administration requirements fit the project.

These answers address common .ru questions

What does .ru mean?

.ru is Russia’s Latin-script country-code top-level domain. The Coordination Center for TLD RU manages the extension.

Does .ru support Cyrillic names?

The second-level label under .ru uses Latin letters, digits, and hyphens. .рф is a separate extension with its own permitted character rules.

Can a foreign applicant register .ru?

Do not assume universal access or a universal prohibition. The 2026 government rules mention foreign legal entities, but applicants must satisfy identity verification and other registration requirements. Confirm the applicable process with the registrar before paying.

Does paying a renewal fee complete every annual requirement?

Do not assume payment completes every requirement. Government Resolution No. 1119 requires annual identity verification to maintain administration rights. Confirm verification and payment deadlines separately with the registrar.

These sources document the registration requirements

Sources checked on October 21, 2026:

• IANA .ru delegation record establishes delegation and the manager.
• Government Resolution No. 1119 supplies the September 2026 registration and identity rules.
• Coordination Center announcement explains the new regulations and registrar transition.
• Russian registry document directory lists current regulatory documents.
• Registry registration rules explain the registry and registrar relationship.
• Registry dispute procedure covers domain dispute procedures.