MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – Over the next three years, Russia intends to introduce a minimum of 12,000 self-driving delivery robots as part of a nationwide pilot initiative. This project establishes a legal foundation for testing robotic couriers, also known as rovers, within everyday transportation and logistics operations. Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development crafted the regulatory framework, which was then signed into law by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. The trial sets specific objectives concerning robot deployment, total travel distance, the number of deliveries completed, and adherence to operational guidelines.
According to the program, a delivery robot is defined as an autonomous vehicle equipped with an automated control system designed to transport goods. These robots are permitted to operate on cycle paths, footways, pavements, as well as in adjacent residential and commercial zones. They are also authorized to utilize designated cycling and pedestrian pathways during the trial period. The established framework allows operators to deploy these machines across participating regions while authorities gather data on their safety and performance.
The three-year initiative mandates the deployment of at least 12,000 robots, which must collectively travel 10.8 million kilometres. During this period, operators are required to complete no fewer than 10.8 million delivery orders. The authorities plan to evaluate the program based on total mileage, active robot counts, completed deliveries, and traffic incidents related to rule violations. The pilot will include 34 regions within the Russian Federation, along with the Sirius Federal Territory.
Nationwide targets for robot delivery operations outlined in trial
Russia has already advanced its autonomous transportation initiatives beyond small delivery bots. In August, the Transport Ministry announced that 121 autonomous trucks had covered over 20 million kilometres since 2023. These vehicles have been operating on key federal roads such as the M-11 Neva, M-4 Don, Central Ring Road, and M-12 Vostok. The ministry noted that trucks from Yandex, Navio, and Kamaz participated, with their mileage tracked through the ERA-GLONASS state information platform.
Efforts to formulate comprehensive rules for highly automated road vehicles are also underway. In January, the Transport Ministry issued a draft federal law aimed at establishing uniform requirements for autonomous vehicles on public roads. This proposal outlines participant rights and responsibilities, along with the transition process from experimental operation to formal regulation. Additionally, in May, the government endorsed a development plan for highly automated freight transport extending to 2035, according to the Transport Ministry.
Expansion of autonomous logistics within Russia’s transportation system
Delivery robots are already integrated into Russia’s broader autonomous transport strategy. Earlier this year, the Transport Ministry indicated that Yandex aimed to deploy 5,000 delivery robots by the end of 2026 and reach 20,000 by 2027. The ministry also reported that robot couriers were operating under an experimental legal regime. The newly established three-year plan sets nationwide benchmarks for robot numbers, total distance traveled, and completed deliveries across participating regions.
This delivery robot trial adds a formal regulatory structure to a technology already present in parts of Russia. Its defined targets give authorities concrete figures for assessing deployment and compliance during the three-year period. Regulators will monitor how many robots are put into service, their total travel distance, the number of deliveries completed, and traffic incidents related to violations. The program creates a standardized testing environment for autonomous last-mile delivery across 34 regions and the Sirius Federal Territory.