The Runity group, which holds a 68% market share in the .ru domain zone, reported a significant shift in domain registration trends in Russia during 2026. Businesses are increasingly prioritizing thematic domain zones over traditional geographic ones to better align with their brand identity and improve visibility in AI-driven search results.
Data from the first eight months of 2026 shows substantial growth in thematic registrations: .tech increased by 60%, .space by 54%, .site by 30%, .pro by 24%, and .online by 13%. Experts note that these domains serve as clear signals to search algorithms, helping businesses define their niche and improve their chances of being recommended by AI systems.
Despite the rise of thematic domains, national zones continue to grow. From January to August 2026, .ru registrations rose by 8% to nearly 750,000, while .rf registrations grew by 20% to 95,000. Thematic zones are capturing demand where businesses seek to highlight their specific industry, especially when preferred names in the .ru zone are already taken.
According to Reg.Solutions, 70% of their users arrive with existing websites needing optimization, while 30% are launching new projects. The company emphasizes that a strategic domain choice now functions as a critical component of the sales funnel, moving beyond simple web addressing to active brand positioning in the era of Generative Engine Optimization.
