MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – Over the next three years, Russia aims to introduce at least 12,000 autonomous delivery robots as part of a nationwide pilot program. This initiative establishes a legal foundation for testing robotic couriers, also known as rovers, within everyday logistics and transportation services. Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development crafted the regulatory framework, which Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin approved through a government decree. The trial has specific measurable objectives concerning robot deployment, total travel distance, number of deliveries completed, and adherence to operational standards.
According to the programme, a delivery robot is defined as an autonomous vehicle employing an automated control system to transport goods. These robots are permitted to operate on cycle paths, footpaths, pavements, adjacent areas, and residential zones. Under the trial regulations, they can also utilize designated cycling and pedestrian zones. The regulatory framework allows operators to deploy these machines across participating regions while authorities gather data related to their performance and safety.
The three-year initiative mandates the deployment of at least 12,000 robots, which are expected to travel a combined distance of 10.8 million kilometres. During this period, operators must complete no fewer than 10.8 million delivery orders. The authorities will evaluate the programme based on metrics such as total mileage, active robot count, completed deliveries, and traffic incidents linked to rule violations. The pilot will cover 34 constituent regions of the Russian Federation in addition to the Sirius Federal Territory.
Nationwide Delivery Robot Pilot Establishes Operating Benchmarks
Russia has extended autonomous transportation beyond small delivery robots. In August, the Transport Ministry reported that 121 autonomous trucks had traveled over 20 million kilometres since 2023. These vehicles have operated on key federal roads, including the M-11 Neva, M-4 Don, Central Ring Road, and M-12 Vostok. The ministry indicated that trucks from Yandex, Navio, and Kamaz participated, with mileage tracked via the ERA-GLONASS state information platform.
Furthermore, Russia is actively developing comprehensive regulations for highly automated vehicles. In January, the Transport Ministry issued a draft federal law intended to set uniform standards for autonomous vehicles operating on public roads. The proposal covers participant rights, responsibilities, and the transition from experimental use to formal regulation. In May, the government approved a development strategy for highly automated freight transportation through 2035, according to the Transport Ministry.
Expansion of Autonomous Logistics in Russia’s Transportation Sector
Delivery robots are already integrated into Russia’s broader autonomous transport initiatives. The Transport Ministry announced earlier in 2026 that Yandex aimed to deploy 5,000 delivery robots by the year’s end and reach 20,000 by 2027. The ministry also noted that robot couriers were operating under an experimental legal framework. The new three-year plan sets national targets for the number of robots, total kilometres traveled, and the volume of completed deliveries across participating regions.
This delivery robot pilot introduces a formal regulatory infrastructure to a technology already in use in certain parts of Russia. Its defined targets provide authorities with specific figures to monitor deployment and compliance over the three-year span. Regulators will track the number of robots deployed, the distance they cover, completed orders, and traffic accidents related to violations. The program creates a standardized testing environment for autonomous last-mile delivery in 34 regions and the Sirius Federal Territory.