The RIPE NCC has closed its Eurasia Network Operators’ Group (ENOG) as a result of Russia’s war against Ukraine. The ENOG platform, established in 2011, aimed to facilitate the exchange of network operators in Russia and Central Asia. However, in light of recent events, the RIPE NCC, the full-time arm of European IP address management, has decided to shut down ENOG.
The RIPE NCC is responsible for assigning IP addresses and Autonomous System Numbers (ASN) to networks on behalf of its members. These numbers are essential for routing traffic in networks. While the RIPE NCC is based in Amsterdam and primarily focuses on Europe, it also looks after the Arabic region as well as Russia, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
Following Russia’s attack on Ukraine in February 2022, there were calls from Ukrainian and European representatives for a strong response, including the withdrawal of Russian IP addresses. However, both ICANN and the RIPE NCC rejected this idea, citing their obligation to serve all members. Due to these tensions, the ENOG meetings became pointless, leading to its dissolution.
The RIPE NCC now plans to focus on its work in individual countries and has already established a new platform called the Central Asia Peering Forum. The organization expects significant shifts in the peering landscape of the region. RIPE NCC scientists are closely monitoring the traffic development in Ukraine during the war, and although connections to networks outside the country are decreasing, the overall network remains relatively stable.
In June, the RIPE NCC published an analysis of the network infrastructure in Central Asia. The states in this region heavily relied on Russian routes into the global network, but now they have to consider alternative global connections. Despite these changes, Russia still remains the largest country in the region.
There are differing opinions among network administrators and technicians regarding the closure of ENOG. Some, like Alexander Isavnin, a Russian activist from the Free University of Moscow, believe that isolating network administrators in a pressured country could undermine the purpose of RIPE. On the other hand, Dmitry Kohmanyuk, an administrator of the Ukrainian address zone .ua, argues that the isolation is self-imposed.
Overall, the closure of ENOG reflects the challenges and complexities faced by the RIPE NCC in navigating political conflicts and serving the needs of its diverse membership.
