PANews reported on December 15 that according to Decrypt, Russia has begun testing a new system capable of cutting off global Internet access, and early reports show that even virtual private networks (VPNs) cannot bypass these restrictions. This marks a significant escalation in the country's efforts to build a so-called "sovereign Internet." The Russian Ministry of Digital Development plans to allocate nearly 60 billion rubles (US$660 million) over the next five years to enhance its network traffic review system. The system, called TSPU, uses domestically developed traffic management tools and is created, distributed and controlled by Roskomnadzor, the national communications regulator. According to researchers at Censored Planet, a project that tracks global network censorship, TSPU represents a sophisticated method of Internet control. The system allows Russian authorities to inspect and filter Internet traffic, potentially blocking access to specific websites and services while maintaining access to approved domestic resources.