MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – Over the course of a three-year initiative, Russia plans to evaluate the deployment of a minimum of 12,000 autonomous delivery robots across numerous regions. This project aims to establish comprehensive national regulations for robotic couriers tasked with transporting goods through urban streets, residential neighborhoods, and pedestrian zones. Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development has developed the legal framework supporting this trial. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin ratified the governmental decree that formalizes the initiative. Throughout the trial, authorities will monitor deployment numbers, delivery quantities, distances covered, and adherence to operational standards.
Autonomous delivery devices are defined by the program as vehicles using automated control systems to move goods and facilitate logistics services. These robots may operate on pavements, footpaths, and cycle tracks in accordance with approved regulations. They are also permitted to function within residential zones, adjacent areas, and other designated pedestrian and cycling regions. The framework offers a regulated environment for companies to operate robotic couriers while enabling authorities to gather usage data. The experiment will span 34 Russian regions and the Sirius Federal Territory.
The authorities have set several quantitative targets for this three-year trial. Participating companies are required to deploy at least 12,000 delivery robots during the program. Collectively, these machines are expected to travel no less than 10.8 million kilometres and fulfill 10.8 million orders. Regulators will evaluate metrics such as active robot count, total distance traveled, and number of deliveries completed. They will also track traffic incidents related to violations of the program’s rules. These benchmarks aim to create a standardized method for assessing autonomous delivery performance across all involved regions.
National Programme Sets Concrete Goals for Robot-Based Deliveries
This delivery initiative coincides with Russia’s broader efforts to expand autonomous vehicle operations throughout its transportation infrastructure. Already, more than 120 self-driving freight trucks have operated on key federal highways, logging millions of kilometres. These routes include the M-11 Neva, M-4 Don, Central Ring Road, and M-12 Vostok. The Transport Ministry has utilized the ERA-GLONASS state data platform to record information from these autonomous trucks. Vehicles developed by Yandex, Navio, and Kamaz have participated in the freight transportation programs.
Russia has also been advancing legislation related to highly automated road transportation. Earlier in 2026, draft federal regulations for autonomous vehicle operation on public roads were published. The proposed rules detail the responsibilities of companies, vehicle operators, and other key stakeholders involved in automated mobility. A separate development plan for highly automated freight transport extends through 2035. These initiatives operate alongside experimental legal frameworks that permit autonomous systems to operate under specific conditions prior to the establishment of comprehensive regulatory standards.
Autonomous Delivery Robots Integrate into Broader Transport Automation Strategies
Existing experimental rules already enable robotic couriers to operate in parts of Russia. Earlier in 2026, plans were announced to expand fleets with thousands more delivery robots. The current three-year plan establishes a comprehensive framework with targeted national deployment figures, travel distances, and order completion goals. It also provides regulators with a unified set of indicators to monitor how autonomous delivery robots perform in various regions and operational settings.
This initiative situates last-mile delivery within Russia’s wider system for testing automated transport technologies. Authorities will analyze operational data to determine how many robots are introduced, how extensively they are used, and their delivery output. Monitoring will include total deliveries, distances covered, and incidents related to rule breaches. The project encompasses both large-scale deployment and daily operations under a unified regulatory approach. By the conclusion of the program, participating robots are anticipated to have completed millions of deliveries across designated testing zones in Russia.