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Russia Develops System to Remotely Control Millions of Home Routers
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Russian telecom operator Rostelecom has submitted an application to the Ministry of Digital Development to include its new software system, “Leshy Connect,” in Russia’s registry of domestic software, as reported by The Moscow Times on may 21.
The system is designed for remote monitoring and management of subscribers’ home routers and modems. It is expected to allow the operator to mass-update firmware, perform diagnostics, and automatically configure internet and IPTV services without requiring user involvement.
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Rostelecom said the name of the system is derived from Slavic mythology. “Leshy was seen as the keeper of the forest who maintained order. By analogy, the network must remain stable and self-sustaining, while client devices require regular updates, maintenance, and protection from threats,” the company stated.
According to the application, “Leshy Connect” is intended as a technical support platform for managing customer equipment within Rostelecom. Vice President Vitaly Trepykhalin said the system ensures timely software updates across devices without the participation of users or company staff.
“Within the company, we manage our own routers. The provider does not need to know device logins or passwords. Devices connect to the system themselves, which then receives a set of management capabilities,” the company explained.
Rostelecom plans to bring up to 50% of its subscriber equipment under the system’s control by 2026, and approximately 7 million devices by 2027. This includes next-generation sixth-generation routers produced by Russian manufacturer Elektra, which has a capacity of up to 150,000 units per month. The company describes “Leshy Connect” as a replacement for foreign-made solutions.
Industry experts say such systems provide operators with broad capabilities for centralized management of subscriber equipment. Alexander Mikhailov, project lead at the Industry and Technology practice at Strategy Partners, noted that while the software is capable of managing devices, its impact depends on how “control” is defined in practice, as reported by The Moscow Times.
“The software can manage devices—that is its core purpose. The question of influencing or managing traffic is more complex and depends on what specific actions are meant by those terms. In general, it may have indirect influence, but if ‘control’ is understood as restriction or regulation, then that is a different category of solutions,” he said.
The development comes amid growing scrutiny over digital surveillance tools and state-controlled internet infrastructure in Russia. Separate research alleged that Russia’s state-backed messenger application Max contains a wide range of hidden monitoring functions capable of collecting user data and bypassing privacy protections.
According to the reverse-engineering study conducted by a programmer using the handle “zarazaex,” the application allegedly includes mechanisms for detecting VPN usage, monitoring contact lists, identifying users’ real IP addresses, and remotely deleting messages from devices without visible notification.
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The report also claimed the messenger can collect hardware-level identifiers that persist even after factory resets, as well as grant mini-applications access to NFC functionality capable of imitating access cards or payment credentials. Additional alleged features include server-controlled fake chats, hidden tracking modules, and the ability to inject code into running applications.
Meanwhile, Russian officials began considering a system that would preserve uninterrupted mobile internet access for a limited category of “verified” users during periods of network restrictions.
he initiative would divide users into categories based on their verification status, allowing selected individuals classified as “trusted” to maintain connectivity even when wider internet shutdowns are imposed.
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