MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – Russia will conduct a three-year trial involving at least 12,000 autonomous delivery robots across numerous regions. This initiative sets forth a unified set of regulations for robotic couriers that deliver items via streets, residential neighborhoods, and pedestrian zones. Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development developed the legal framework supporting the test. The government decree approving the project was signed off by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. Throughout the trial, authorities will monitor deployment figures, delivery counts, traveled distances, and compliance with operational standards.
The framework describes delivery robots as autonomous systems that utilize automated control to move goods and support logistics services. These machines are permitted to operate on pavements, footpaths, and cycle routes according to the approved guidelines. They are also authorized to function within residential districts, adjacent territories, and other designated pedestrian or cycling areas. This regulation offers a controlled environment for companies to operate robotic couriers while enabling authorities to gather data on their usage. The pilot will encompass 34 Russian regions plus the Sirius Federal Territory.
Officials have set specific quantitative goals for this three-year initiative. Participating companies are required to deploy a minimum of 12,000 delivery robots throughout the program. Collectively, these robots aim to travel at least 10.8 million kilometers and fulfill 10.8 million orders. Regulators will evaluate metrics such as the number of active units, total distance traveled, and completed deliveries. They will also document any road incidents related to breaches of the program’s rules. These benchmarks are intended to establish a standardized system for evaluating autonomous delivery services across the involved regions.
Government-led trial establishes clear objectives for robot-based deliveries
This delivery initiative coincides with Russia’s efforts to expand the deployment of autonomous vehicles within its transportation infrastructure. Over 120 self-driving freight trucks have already been operated on major federal highways, logging millions of kilometers on routes such as the M-11 Neva, M-4 Don, Central Ring Road, and M-12 Vostok. Data collection from these vehicles has been carried out through the ERA-GLONASS platform, including vehicles from companies like Yandex, Navio, and Kamaz.
Russia has also been developing comprehensive legislation for highly automated road transport. Earlier in 2026, draft federal regulations were published, detailing the responsibilities of companies, drivers, and other stakeholders involved in autonomous vehicle operation on public roads. A separate concept for highly automated freight transport extends through 2035. These initiatives complement experimental legal regimes that enable autonomous systems to operate under defined conditions before broader regulatory standards are introduced.
Robotic couriers become part of a wider automation in transportation
Existing experimental rules already permit robotic couriers to operate in certain parts of Russia. Earlier announcements in 2026 indicated plans for thousands more delivery robots to be introduced as operators broaden their fleets. The current three-year plan establishes a comprehensive framework with specific national goals for deployment, travel, and order fulfillment. It also provides regulators with a uniform set of indicators to oversee how autonomous delivery robots perform across various regions and operational conditions.
This initiative integrates last-mile delivery into Russia’s broader system for testing autonomous transport technologies. Data collected on operational metrics will gauge how many robots are brought into service, how intensively they are used, and how many deliveries are completed. Monitoring will also cover total kilometers traveled and incidents related to rule breaches. The trial encompasses both large-scale deployment and everyday operations within a unified regulatory environment. By the conclusion of the programme, participating robots are expected to have completed millions of deliveries across designated testing zones in Russia.