In 2023, the number of registered civilian drones in Russia rose by about one third, based on official data released through a public-facing channel. The overall trend points to a growing fleet of unmanned aerial systems and a tightening regulatory footprint around their use in civilian life.
According to the ministry’s figures, by the end of 2023 roughly 93,000 civilian drones were formally registered in Russia, up from about 70,000 registered by the end of 2022. Entering 2024, the ownership split shows around 67,000 drones registered to private individuals and about 25,000 registered to business entities. This distribution highlights a broad mix of hobbyist pilots and commercial operators who rely on drones for tasks ranging from photography to site inspection and agricultural monitoring.
In 2023, a total of 52,387 applications for public services related to UAV registration were received and processed. Of these, 26,281 applications resulted in positive determinations confirming registration, while the remainder were addressed through additional verification or administrative steps. Such figures illustrate the ongoing effort to formalize drone ownership and ensure compliance with existing rules governing airspace and safety.
Drones weighing from 150 grams up to 30 kilograms fall under the registration requirement, creating a broad category that encompasses compact camera quads as well as larger commercial platforms. This regulatory boundary helps authorities monitor flight operations, manage risk to people and infrastructure, and facilitate data collection for safety and aviation governance.
At the outset of 2024, discussions around scale and capability continued, with plans articulated for the domestic production of large and medium-sized civilian unmanned aerial vehicles exceeding 1 kilogram in weight. Initiative leaders emphasized a target to produce a substantial batch of these aircraft domestically, signaling a strategic aim to expand supply, support industry growth, and potentially reduce reliance on imported platforms in the civilian market.
During mid-2023, a senior official responsible for digital economy development outlined that there was an ongoing evaluation of exemptions to the current civilian-use ban in certain regions. The goal of this assessment was to determine whether allowances could be made in specified areas to foster broader adoption of drone technology while maintaining essential safeguards and regulatory oversight. This conversation reflects a broader national effort to balance innovation with safety and responsible use of airspace across diverse geographic zones.
Earlier discussions from the ministry of economic development considered allowing drone operations in agricultural contexts. The idea was to explore how unmanned flight could support farming productivity—such as crop monitoring, irrigation planning, and pest control—without compromising safety, privacy, or air traffic management. The evolving policy stance demonstrates an interest in unlocking practical benefits while ensuring that regulatory requirements keep pace with technological advancement.