Izvestia: Dozens of telecom operators in Russia fined for failing to hand over IP addresses

Izvestia: Dozens of telecom operators in Russia fined for failing to hand over IP addresses

This data makes it possible to track VPNs

As of May 21, Roskomnadzor had held 85 telecom companies liable for failing to provide the authorities with information about subscribers’ IP addresses, the agency told the newspaper Izvestia.

The regulator уточнил that companies must submit address information after receiving the relevant notification. In March 2026, RKN sent such notices to 1,359 telecom operators.

How many of them respond to the supervisory agency’s notification was not specified. Under the law, the agency must be informed about changes of IP addresses within a day, and in special cases within an hour.

Roskomnadzor says the reason for these measures is “countering computer attacks, including DDoS attacks.” A source close to one of the operators told the newspaper that data on subscribers’ IP addresses makes it possible to determine whether a user is using a VPN.

🔹Fines for failing to provide information can fall under several administrative articles at once, and can amount to as much as 500,000 rubles (1 million rubles for a repeat violation), experts interviewed by Izvestia say.

At the same time, the equipment needed to promptly collect information on changes in IP addresses is very expensive, Leonid Konik, a partner at ComNews Research, points out.

And to comply with RKN requirements, additional staff must be hired, which creates a noticeable financial burden for small and medium-sized providers.

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