Why migrate
Moving to Russian hosting is a common scenario in 2026: some leave foreign providers over payment issues and blocks, others want low ping across Russia and Russian-language support. The move itself is a technical procedure you can complete without downtime if you follow the steps.
Step 1: Choose a provider for your task
Decide what you need: shared hosting for a site or a VPS for a project. Among Russian options there’s AdminVPS for cheap VPS, and Sprinthost and Hostland for shared hosting. Check the location (Moscow/St. Petersburg give minimal ping across Russia), KVM virtualization and the panel.
Step 2: Capture the current state
Before any action, make a full backup: site files, database, mailboxes, DNS records. A backup is your insurance in case something goes wrong. Store it separately from both providers.
Step 3: Move the files
Copy the site files to the new host. For shared hosting this is done through the panel’s file manager or FTP/SFTP. For a VPS — via scp/rsync. Check file and directory permissions so the site opens.
Step 4: Move the database
Export the database (for example via phpMyAdmin or mysqldump), create a database on the new provider and import the dump. Update the site config: database host, login, password. A common mistake is forgetting to change the connection settings, and the site falls into a “database connection error”.
Step 5: Move email
If email lived on the old host, create mailboxes on the new one and transfer messages. Update MX records in advance so new mail goes to the new server. Old messages are transferred via IMAP sync.
Step 6: Move the domain and DNS
The domain stays yours — only the servicing moves. You have two options: change the NS servers to the new ones or transfer the domain to a new registrar. After changing NS, wait for DNS propagation (from a few minutes to a day). During this time it’s better not to take the old site offline.
Step 7: Verify before turning off the old host
Run through the checklist:
- The site opens from the new host (via a temporary address or hosts file)
- The database is connected and data is in place
- Email receives and sends
- The SSL certificate is issued and working
- Forms and payments work
Only after a full check, turn off the old hosting.
Common mistakes
- Turning off the old host before checking — risk of downtime.
- Forgetting the DNS cache — the site “flickers” between servers.
- Not updating the DB connection config — the site stays down.
- Losing the email backup — messages can’t be recovered.
Verdict
Migrating to Russian hosting isn’t magic, it’s a sequence of steps. The key points are a backup, verification and patience with DNS. Follow the checklist — and the move passes unnoticed by visitors.