Data Centers in Russia

Russia – A Vast Market with Localized Infrastructure

Russia's expansive territory presents a unique digital infrastructure landscape, offering robust colocation options within its major economic hubs. For businesses requiring data sovereignty and low-latency access to the nation's large population, leveraging local data centers is a critical strategic move. The market is defined by its self-contained connectivity ecosystem, primarily serving domestic and regional traffic.

Russia: At A Glance

Network & Connectivity Ecosystem

The Russian connectivity market is substantial but largely self-contained, with a focus on serving the domestic user base. International connectivity is concentrated through a few key providers and geographic routes.

Carrier Density & Carrier Neutrality: With over 89 data centers, the market is served by approximately 10 national and regional providers as of September 2025. Major facilities in Moscow and St. Petersburg offer access to a dense mix of local and national carriers.

Direct Cloud On-Ramps: There are no direct, in-country public cloud on-ramps for major global providers. Businesses require private network extensions or IP transit solutions to connect to cloud regions, with the nearest access points located in Helsinki, Finland, or Stockholm, Sweden.

Internet Exchange Points (IXPs): The primary exchange is MSK-IX in Moscow, which is central to domestic traffic exchange and peering for Russia and the broader CIS region. Additional IXPs in other major cities facilitate regional traffic flow, reducing reliance on Moscow for all peering.

Bare Metal: Bare metal server options are widely available from local providers. Global providers like OVHcloud and Leasebusiness also have a presence, offering dedicated server solutions for compute-intensive workloads.

Power Analysis

Russia's power infrastructure is extensive, drawing from a mix of sources that ensures reliable capacity for data center operations in established economic zones.

Average Cost Of Power: Industrial power costs generally range from ₽3.50 to ₽5.00/kWh as of September 2025. This competitive pricing is advantageous for high-density deployments, though rates can vary significantly by region.

Power Grid Reliability: The power grid in major metropolitan areas like Moscow and St. Petersburg is well-engineered and reliable, with data centers typically connected to multiple substations. Outside these core hubs, grid stability can be less consistent.

Market Access, Business & Tax Climate

Locating infrastructure in Russia is driven by the need to serve its vast domestic market directly and comply with data localization regulations.

Proximity To Key Business Districts: Data centers are concentrated in and around Moscow, serving the capital's massive financial, commercial, and government sectors. Facilities in St. Petersburg cater to its significant industrial, research, and technology base.

Regional Market Reach: A presence in Russia provides low-latency access to over 145 million people. It also serves as a digital hub for several neighboring countries within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Tax Advantage For Data Centers: There are no specific national tax incentives targeted at the data center industry. The primary financial driver is operational efficiency gained by being close to the end-user, rather than tax relief.

Natural Disaster Risk

Russia faces a medium overall risk profile, with specific natural hazards varying dramatically across its immense geography. The INFORM Risk score is 4.4 out of 10 as of September 2025.

Key natural risks include:

• River Flood: The highest individual risk factor (8.4/10), particularly in regions with extensive river systems.
• Drought: A significant concern (6.1/10) for agricultural regions and areas susceptible to water shortages.
• Coastal Flood: A notable risk (5.3/10) along its extensive coastlines.
• Earthquake: A moderate risk (4.2/10), concentrated in specific seismic zones like the Caucasus region and the Far East.
• Tsunami: A localized risk (4.2/10) primarily affecting the Pacific coastline.