MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – Over the next three years, Russia aims to implement a minimum of 12,000 autonomous delivery robots as part of a nationwide pilot program. This initiative establishes a legal framework to test robotic couriers, also known as rovers, within daily transportation and logistics operations. Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development crafted this framework, which was then authorized by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin through an official government decree. The trial sets clear benchmarks for the deployment of robots, including travel distances, delivery completions, and adherence to operational guidelines.
Within this program, authorities define a delivery robot as an autonomous vehicle equipped with an automated control system to transport goods. These robots may operate on cycle paths, footpaths, pavements, along with adjacent zones and residential areas. They are permitted to use designated cycling and pedestrian pathways during the trial phase. The legal framework allows operators to deploy these machines across participating regions while regulatory bodies gather data related to safety and performance.
The three-year plan mandates that at least 12,000 robots be introduced into operation, collectively covering 10.8 million kilometres. During the trial period, operators are also required to complete a minimum of 10.8 million delivery orders. The authorities will evaluate the success of the initiative based on metrics such as total mileage, active robot counts, number of orders fulfilled, and traffic incidents resulting from rule violations. This experiment will encompass 34 regions within the Russian Federation, including the Sirius Federal Territory.
National Goals for Robot Delivery Operations Established in Pilot Program
Russia has extended its autonomous transportation initiatives beyond small delivery robots. The Transport Ministry announced in August that 121 autonomous trucks had traveled over 20 million kilometres since 2023. These vehicles have operated on major federal routes including the M-11 Neva, M-4 Don, Central Ring Road, and M-12 Vostok. The ministry reported that trucks from Yandex, Navio, and Kamaz participated, with mileage data recorded via the ERA-GLONASS state information platform.
Furthermore, Russian authorities have been working on broader regulations for highly automated road vehicles. In January, the Transport Ministry issued a draft federal law proposing standardized requirements for autonomous vehicles on public roads. This legislation covers participant rights and responsibilities and outlines the transition process from experimental testing to formal regulation. In May, the government approved a development plan for highly automated freight transport extending through 2035, according to the Transport Ministry.
Expansion of Autonomous Logistics in Russian Transportation Sector
Delivery robots are already a component of Russia’s broader autonomous transportation strategy. Earlier in 2026, the Transport Ministry indicated that Yandex planned to deploy 5,000 delivery robots by year-end and increase that number to 20,000 by 2027. The ministry also noted that robot couriers have been operating under an experimental legal regime. The newly approved three-year initiative sets specific targets for the number of robots, total distance traveled, and orders completed across the regions involved.
This delivery robot trial adds a formal regulatory layer to an existing technology already in use in some parts of Russia. Its defined targets give authorities concrete figures for monitoring deployment, performance, and compliance throughout the three-year period. Regulators will track the number of robots introduced, their travel distances, the volume of orders completed, and traffic accidents associated with violations. The program creates a unified testing environment for autonomous last-mile delivery across 34 regions and the Sirius Federal Territory.