MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – Autonomous transportation initiatives are expanding across Russia, with the country now planning to incorporate a substantial fleet of delivery robots over the next three years. This nationwide initiative aims to implement at least 12,000 robotic couriers, also known as rovers, within a controlled trial period. The project establishes a legal basis for testing these robotic delivery systems in everyday logistics and transportation scenarios. Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development prepared the regulatory framework, which was subsequently signed into law by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. The trial period sets specific goals regarding robot deployment, total travel distance, number of deliveries completed, and adherence to operational standards.
Within this program, authorities define a delivery robot as an autonomous vehicle equipped with an automated control system designed for transporting goods. These robots are permitted to operate on cycle paths, footpaths, pavements, nearby areas, and residential zones. They are also authorized to use designated cycling and pedestrian zones during the trial. The legal framework allows operators to deploy these machines across participating regions while regulatory bodies gather data on their performance and safety metrics.
The three-year plan mandates that at least 12,000 robots be put into service, collectively covering a distance of 10.8 million kilometres. During the trial, operators are required to complete a minimum of 10.8 million deliveries. Evaluation of the program will be based on metrics such as total mileage, active units in operation, number of orders fulfilled, and traffic incidents related to rule violations. This initiative will encompass 34 regions within the Russian Federation as well as the Sirius Federal Territory.
National Targets Established for Robot Delivery Trials
Russia has already extended autonomous transportation beyond small delivery robots. In August, the Transport Ministry announced that 121 autonomous trucks had traveled over 20 million kilometres since 2023. These vehicles have operated on major federal roads including the M-11 Neva, M-4 Don, Central Ring Road, and M-12 Vostok. The ministry reported that trucks from Yandex, Navio, and Kamaz participated, with mileage tracked through the ERA-GLONASS state information platform.
Efforts to create broader regulations for highly automated road vehicles are also underway. In January, the Transport Ministry released a draft federal law intended to establish uniform requirements for autonomous vehicles on public roads. This proposal covers the rights and responsibilities of participants and addresses the transition from experimental operation to formal legal regulation. Additionally, in May, the government approved a development plan for highly automated freight transportation through 2035, according to the Transport Ministry.
Autonomous Logistics Initiatives Grow in Russia
Delivery robots are now a part of Russia’s broader autonomous transportation development. Earlier in 2026, the Transport Ministry indicated that Yandex aimed to deploy 5,000 delivery robots by the end of that year and increase to 20,000 by 2027. These robot couriers have been operating under an experimental legal framework. The upcoming three-year program sets concrete national goals for robot numbers, total kilometres traveled, and completed deliveries across regions taking part in the initiative.
This new trial formalizes the regulatory structure for a technology already in use in parts of Russia. The specified targets provide a clear metric system for monitoring deployment and compliance throughout the three-year period. Authorities will track the number of active machines, distances covered, completed orders, and traffic incidents linked to violations. The program also establishes a standardized testing framework for autonomous last-mile delivery in 34 regions and the Sirius Federal Territory.