.ru is the Latin alphabet Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Russia introduced on 7 April 1994.

The union includes the leading Russian ISPs as well as scientific and educational networks entrusted by RIPN with RU domain administration.

The accredited registrars provide domain name registration and support services on a "first come, first served" basis to end-users.

RIPN became one of four co-founders of CC for TLD RU, but continued to support centralized technical aspects of the operation of .ru.

CC for TLD RU maintains domain name registration rules for .ru, the registrar accreditation procedure, and promotes perspective projects that involve the growth of .ru, whereas RIPN secures .ru technical base functions and supports DNS for the .ru DNS zone.