MOSCOW / RankWire.AI / – A three-year testing phase will see Russia deploying no less than 12,000 autonomous delivery robots across multiple regions. This initiative aims to establish comprehensive national guidelines for robotic couriers that deliver goods through streets, residential areas, and pedestrian zones. Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development has developed the legal framework to support this pilot. The government, led by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, approved the decree that formalizes the programme. Throughout the trial, authorities will monitor deployment numbers, delivery volumes, distances traveled, and adherence to operational standards.
Delivery robots are defined within the framework as autonomous machines equipped with control systems that facilitate the transportation of goods and logistical services. Under approved regulations, these devices may operate on pavements, footpaths, and cycle paths. They are permitted to function in residential zones, neighboring areas, and other designated pedestrian or cycling zones. The legal structure provides a regulated environment for businesses to run robotic courier services while enabling authorities to gather data on their usage. The experiment spans 34 Russian regions and the Sirius Federal Territory.
Several quantitative goals have been set for this three-year testing period. Operators involved must deploy a minimum of 12,000 delivery robots. The collective distance covered by these robots should reach at least 10.8 million kilometers, with a target of completing 10.8 million orders. Regulators will track the number of active robots, overall mileage, and delivered packages. They will also document any road incidents related to violations of the programme’s rules. These benchmarks serve as a standardized method for evaluating autonomous delivery activities across participating areas.
Nationwide trial establishes clear benchmarks for robot-based deliveries
This autonomous delivery initiative aligns with Russia’s broader efforts to expand the use of self-driving vehicles within its transport infrastructure. Over 120 autonomous freight trucks have already been operating on key federal highways, logging millions of kilometers. Major routes include the M-11 Neva, M-4 Don, Central Ring Road, and M-12 Vostok. Data from these autonomous trucks is tracked via the ERA-GLONASS state platform. Companies like Yandex, Navio, and Kamaz have contributed vehicles to this freight programme.
Russia has additionally drafted regulations for highly automated road transportation. Earlier in 2026, officials published draft federal rules for autonomous vehicle operation on public roads. These guidelines specify responsibilities for companies, vehicle operators, and other stakeholders involved in automated transport. A separate concept for highly automated freight transport extends through 2035. These initiatives run parallel to experimental legal regimes that permit autonomous systems to operate under specific conditions before comprehensive standards are introduced.
Wider transport automation efforts incorporate autonomous delivery robots
Existing experimental rules already enable robotic couriers to operate in parts of Russia. Earlier 2026 announcements outlined plans for thousands more delivery robots to join ongoing fleets. The new three-year initiative creates an expanded structure with specific national goals related to deployment, travel distances, and order fulfillment. It also introduces uniform indicators for regulators to monitor how autonomous delivery robots perform across different regions and environments.
This programme integrates last-mile delivery into Russia’s broader autonomous transport testing system. Authorities will analyze data to assess how many robots are activated, their usage levels, total deliveries, distances traveled, and incidents tied to rule breaches. Covering both large-scale deployment and routine operations under a unified regulatory framework, the trial aims for participating robots to complete millions of deliveries across designated testing zones across Russia by its conclusion.