A government ministry is exploring a temporary framework to permit drone use in farming through an experimental legal regime. This approach is being discussed by officials who oversee the digital economy and economic development. The aim is to evaluate how unmanned aircraft can support agricultural work while a longer-term policy is shaped.
The plan suggests that flight restrictions could be eased in areas that are not within a designated border zone, enabling more flexible drone operations for farming tasks, crop monitoring, and data collection. Flights would be conducted on request, allowing oversight authorities to approve missions on a case-by-case basis.
Currently, there are already pilot programs in several regions that test drone-enabled agricultural activities under the broader experimental framework. Regions mentioned as part of these pilots include Tomsk, Bashkortostan, Kamchatka, Chukotka, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, and the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. These pilots illustrate how unmanned aviation can be integrated into rural landscapes to support farmers, researchers, and regional planners.
In June, officials from the Digital Economy Development Department indicated that exceptions to the civilian drone ban may be considered in particular zones. This signals a broader interest in examining how the use of drones could be regulated differently when applied to civilian tasks, including agriculture, while maintaining safety and security standards.
Separately, a military analyst and curator of a national air defense museum has noted the potential hazards associated with photographing sensitive air defense infrastructure and the use of drones near such systems. The commentary underscores the need for clear guidelines and risk assessments to prevent misuses or misinterpretations of drone activities in strategic airspace.
Earlier reports also referenced search and rescue operations where drones were employed to assist in locating a missing child in a forested region. The successful use of drone technology in that emergency context highlights the broader utility of unmanned aircraft for rapid response, situational awareness, and public safety in remote or challenging terrain.