Smart routing (Split Tunneling)
Smart routing is one of the most useful RUSVPN features, radically changing the VPN experience. Instead of routing all traffic through a VPN tunnel, the system automatically determines which sites to open directly and which through a secure connection. The result: local sites run at full speed, international ones are accessible without blocks.
The problem without smart routing
Imagine: you turned on a VPN to access YouTube. But now your bank doesn't recognize you (IP from another country), government services work slowly, and online stores show prices in a different currency. This is the classic "all or nothing" problem with ordinary VPNs.
Besides, routing all traffic through a VPN reduces speed for local sites — why make a detour through Europe to open VKontakte?
How RUSVPN smart routing works
RUSVPN maintains an up-to-date database of Russian IP addresses and domains. On every request, the system instantly determines:
- Russian resource → direct connection, maximum speed
- Blocked or international resource → through the VPN tunnel
This happens automatically, with no settings on your part.
What works directly (without VPN)
- Banks: Sberbank, Tinkoff, VTB, Alfa-Bank
- Marketplaces: Wildberries, Ozon, Yandex.Market
- Government services, FNS, MFC
- VKontakte, Odnoklassniki
- Yandex (search, maps, mail)
- Kinopoisk, IVI, Okko
- Russian news sites
What opens through VPN
- YouTube, Twitch, Vimeo
- Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X
- WhatsApp (calls), Telegram (in some regions)
- Spotify, Apple Music
- Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max
- Google (search, Gmail, Drive)
The blocking situation in Russia
According to Roskomnadzor, the registry of blocked resources contains more than 700,000 entries. Among the most notable blocks:
- Instagram and Facebook (Meta designated an undesirable organization in the Russian Federation)
- Twitter/X (throttled since 2021, then blocked)
- LinkedIn (blocked since 2016 for violating the data localization law)
- Many Western media (BBC, Deutsche Welle, Voice of America)
Benefits of smart routing
- Maximum speed for local sites — no detour through VPN servers
- Banks and government services work correctly — they see your real IP
- Access to blocked resources — YouTube, Instagram, Twitter via VPN
- Traffic savings — only international traffic goes through the tunnel
- No manual setup — everything works automatically
Smart routing vs. always-on VPN
Always-on VPN routes everything through the tunnel. This is secure but slow for local sites and breaks banking/government services. Smart routing gives you the best of both worlds: security where you need it, speed and compatibility where you don't.