Russia to Test Drone Parcel Delivery in Five Regions Through 2027

Russia's Ministry of Transport plans to launch a pilot project for regular drone deliveries of groceries, medicines, parcels and documents, the ministry's press service announced. Up to five regions will be selected to test the technology on routes of up to 100 km.

The main goal is to move from isolated test flights to regular cargo transport. The ministry wants to find out whether unmanned delivery is faster and more cost-effective than traditional shipping methods.

Three route types linking warehouses and pickup points

Under the plan, drones will carry goods between logistics facilities. Routes will come in three lengths: up to 20, 50 and 100 km, connecting warehouses, distribution centers and pickup points.

The pilot is meant to assess three things: how much drones cut delivery times, how much more economical they are compared with conventional logistics, and in which regions the technology is in greatest demand.

Existing experience in Nizhny Novgorod and Yakutia

Drone delivery is already in use in several regions. In the Nizhny Novgorod region, drones have delivered more than 2,500 orders to customers. In Yakutia, the "Air Crossing" project, a pilot logistics scheme for regular delivery of small cargo by unmanned aircraft, has completed 288 flights and moved about 670 kg of goods.

For businesses and consumers, the experiment could show whether drones can become a routine part of last-mile and regional logistics, particularly for hard-to-reach areas. Results will also give the authorities data to decide where the technology makes economic sense.

The Ministry of Transport expects to present the first results of the selection of the five additional regions in November 2026. Testing will run until the end of 2027.