AI Becomes the Architect of Russia’s Digital Infrastructure
Russia is ramping up its data center development as AI fuels demand for domestic computing infrastructure.
AI Demand Is Reshaping the Market
Over the past five years, the total capacity of commercial data centers in Russia has more than doubled and is now operating near maximum load, according to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in early 2025. The spike in demand is being driven by banks, e-commerce platforms, and industrial enterprises, which are generating and processing ever-larger volumes of data. Personal content production is also soaring.
All of this information is processed in cloud systems hosted on data center servers. The need for such infrastructure is tightly linked to the rise of artificial intelligence. AI is quickly becoming a business standard, touching everything from factory automation to hyper-personalized customer service. As data multiplies and tasks grow more complex, the demand for processing power continues to rise.
A National Priority and the Push for Sovereignty
The move toward domestic digital infrastructure also aligns with Russia’s broader policy of technological independence. More than 50% of the equipment and software used in Russian data centers is now locally made.
This direction is part of the national project “Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State,” which is funded with 1.013 trillion rubles through 2030. The initiative aims to ensure that at least 80% of major companies across critical industries transition to domestic software.
“For leading players, replacing foreign-made solutions is no longer the priority,” said Artem Pishchulin, brand communications manager at Russian hardware maker iRU. “Today’s market is mature and diverse enough to meet clients’ needs with what’s already available.”
BRICS Partnerships and Foreign Interest
Russia’s digital infrastructure boom isn’t limited to internal policy. It has also sparked significant interest among BRICS countries. Investors from the alliance are already backing several Russian tech firms, including BitRiver, a company that owns and operates 21 data centers across the country.
In October 2024, BitRiver and the Russian Direct Investment Fund signed an agreement to build additional facilities to meet growing demand in both Russia and BRICS nations. Ten new centers are already under construction.
The Rise of the Data Economy
Major companies in finance, e-commerce, and heavy industry are now building their own facilities. VK, Wildberries, Gazprom, Sber, T-Technology, and Severstal are all expanding their data center footprints. These expansions support the rapid evolution of AI systems.
Experts forecast that by 2028, the capacity of commercial data centers in Russia will triple, reaching 2.3 GW, and surpass 5 GW within a decade. In 2024, the market was valued at over 156 billion rubles — a 33% increase over 2023.
These figures reflect the emergence of a true ‘data economy,’ where information and computing power are becoming as critical as oil and electricity once were. Russia appears well-positioned to become a global leader in digital transformation, leveraging its growing tech base and expanding domestic market.
