ABSTRACT
The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 caused global outrage and led to extensive international sanctions against the Russian Federation. Alongside economic and political sanctions, a debate emerged in the months that followed on whether and to what extent parts of Russia's internet infrastructure could be sanctioned. This discourse event weaves through the short but eventful history of the internet in a way that is particularly interesting for examining the refiguration of spaces. After briefly summarizing the situation at the onset of the war, this paper examines the public debate surrounding the fragmentation of the internet by analyzing the development of the sanctions discourse within the transnational sphere of internet governance. The result of this discourse was a clear emphasis on maintaining the internet as an open network, while also establishing distinct material – spatial, political, and economic boundaries with Russia. This highlights the significance of spatial concepts such as territory and network, which play a crucial role in shaping discourse, governance structures, and technological infrastructure. Despite their conflicting spatial logics, these elements have not led to fragmentation or weaponization, but rather to a refiguration of the internet in a simultaneous spatial realization.
