MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – Russia plans to pilot a minimum of 12,000 autonomous delivery robots over a span of three years, spanning numerous regions. This initiative introduces a comprehensive set of national regulations for robotic couriers that deliver goods along streets, residential neighborhoods, and pedestrian zones. Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development established the legal foundation for this testing phase. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin sanctioned the official government decree that formally launched the project. Throughout the trial, authorities will monitor deployment levels, delivery counts, distance traveled, and adherence to operational standards.
Delivery robots in this context are defined as autonomous systems that rely on automated control mechanisms to carry goods and logistics services. These machines are permitted to operate on pavements, footpaths, and cycle paths in accordance with approved guidelines. They may also function within residential zones, adjacent areas, and other designated pedestrian or cycling zones. The legal framework offers businesses a regulated environment for deploying robotic couriers while enabling authorities to gather pertinent data on their utilization. The experiment will span 34 Russian regions, including the Sirius Federal Territory.
Several quantitative objectives have been established for this three-year initiative. Operators involved must deploy no fewer than 12,000 delivery robots throughout the programme’s duration. The collective distance these robots are expected to cover totals at least 10.8 million kilometres, with a goal of completing 10.8 million orders. Regulators will track the active robot count, overall mileage, and number of deliveries finalized. They will also document any road incidents linked to breaches of the programme’s rules. These benchmarks are intended to facilitate a standardized method for evaluating autonomous delivery operations across the participating regions.
Nationwide trial establishes clear targets for robotic delivery metrics
This delivery initiative coincides with Russia’s broader efforts to expand autonomous vehicle use across its transportation infrastructure. Over 120 self-driving freight trucks have already been operating along major federal highways, logging millions of kilometres. These routes include the M-11 Neva, M-4 Don, Central Ring Road, and M-12 Vostok. Data collection from these autonomous trucks is managed via the ERA-GLONASS state information platform. Companies such as Yandex, Navio, and Kamaz have developed vehicles in this freight program.
Russia has also been working on comprehensive legislation for highly automated road transport. In early 2026, draft federal regulations on autonomous vehicle operation on public roads were published. These proposed rules define responsibilities for firms, vehicle operators, and other stakeholders involved in automated transportation. Additionally, a separate plan for highly automated freight transportation extends through 2035. These efforts complement experimental legal regimes that permit autonomous systems to operate under specific conditions before new regulatory standards are enacted.
Autonomous delivery units become part of Russia’s larger automation strategy for transportation
Robotic couriers are already active in some regions under existing experimental rules. The earlier 2026 plans called for thousands more delivery robots to join existing fleets as operators expanded their operations. The current three-year plan offers a broader framework, with explicit national targets for deployment, travel distances, and order completions. It also provides regulators with a unified set of indicators to track autonomous delivery performance across diverse regions and environments.
This initiative integrates last-mile delivery into Russia’s larger automated transport testing system. Authorities will assess operational data to determine how many robots are introduced and how extensively they are utilized by companies. Monitoring will include total deliveries, kilometers traveled, and incidents related to rule violations. The project encompasses both large-scale deployment and routine operation within a unified regulatory context. By the end of the programme, participating robots are scheduled to complete millions of deliveries across designated testing zones in Russia.