RIPE NCC freezes resources for 28 members and End Users

RIPE NCC Freezes 28 Member and End-User Resource Registrations

The RIPE Network Coordination Centre has frozen Internet number resources held by five members and 23 End Users newly identified as subject to European Union sanctions. Disclosed on October 23 in its latest quarterly transparency report, the administrative action restricts changes to resource registrations while leaving existing network operations untouched.

The Tech TL;DR:
• RIPE NCC froze IP and AS resources for 28 members and End Users under EU sanctions.
• Existing BGP routes and network reachability remain functional without administrative revocation.
• Screening records show 2,339 total alerts with 2,108 resolved as false positives or exemptions.

Administrative Restrictions Versus Operational Routing Impact

A resource freeze does not disconnect a network or withdraw Border Gateway Protocol route announcements. Affected organizations cannot obtain additional Internet number resources or transfer existing allocations and assignments, but their registered resources remain in the RIPE Database. The registry does not revoke those registrations or terminate membership agreements solely because of sanctions, separating administrative control from operational use. Actual network reachability remains dependent on routing arrangements and decisions made by network operators.

The Q4 2026 transparency report also places four members on hold because their sanctions status could not be conclusively established, with one of those members additionally holding resources as an End User. RIPE NCC’s cumulative screening records as of October 1 showed 2,339 alerts involving EU and U.S. sanctions checks. Out of those alerts, 2,108 were resolved as false positives, inapplicable sanctions, exemptions, or cases involving U.S. sanctions. Meanwhile, 119 remained under investigation, 39 had not yet been examined, and 20 were classified as on hold.

RIPE NCC Screens Millions of Restricted IP Addresses

These figures describe the resources covered by administrative restrictions rather than addresses or networks removed from service. Headquartered in the Netherlands, RIPE NCC must comply with EU restrictions applicable to its services. It also screens against sanctions maintained by the U.S.

U.S. sanctions can nevertheless affect banking relationships and the registry’s ability to collect membership payments. Potential sanctions matches can temporarily prevent resource transactions while investigations proceed. Most investigations ultimately establish that restrictions do not apply, but the registry cannot process requests for new resources or transfers while relevant cases remain unresolved.