Drone regulations in Russia
Verfasst von Francis Markert | Last update on 03.07.2025 | 6 Kommentare
This article provides everything you need to know if you plan to fly a drone in Russia.
Due to the current political situation, we currently assume that drone flights in Russia are not permitted. The information below is from before 2022. It’s possible that some of it still applies or may become relevant again in the future. At this time, we advise against traveling to Russia with a drone.
Overview: Drone rules in Russian Federation
Drone labels can be ordered here
Drone Regulations in Russia
Obtaining the proper authorization to fly a drone in Russia is very complex. The following rules apply to private flights with drones under 30 kilograms.
Import Regulations
The following information has been reported to us, but we have not been able to verify it: You must declare the drone upon entry using a customs form. This can typically be done at the airport at the declaration passage. According to reports, the maximum flight time of the drone must not exceed 30 minutes as per the manufacturer’s specifications. Be sure to bring this documentation with you.
Registration
Russian law requires that drones weighing between 250 grams and 30 kilograms must be registered. A subdivision of the Ministry of Transport is supposedly responsible, but so far there seems to be no clear registration process. In practice, things are still unclear. However, if your drone is registered, it must be marked with the corresponding registration number.
Airspace Authorization
In addition, you need permission from the airspace management of the Russian aviation authority (FAVT) for each flight. Here, too, the process is unclear.
Certain areas are subject to additional restrictions. Drones are not allowed to fly:
- over crowds
- over stadiums
- over the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square
- near buildings
- near airports and flight paths (at least 15 km from runways)
- within 5 kilometers of airfields
Be especially cautious near power lines, cranes, and other obstacles.
Additional permits are required for the following areas:
- Cities with federal significance: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sevastopol
- populated areas
- important or classified factories
- military zones
- protected areas such as national parks
- restricted zones
Permits are issued by regional authorities or the respective property owner. The pilot organization AOPA provides a current Google Earth map.
During the flight itself, you must follow the prescribed procedures:
- Notify the local air traffic control at least 24 hours before takeoff
- Report your readiness two hours before takeoff
- Inform air traffic control once the drone is in the air
- Notify them again after the flight is complete
Liability Insurance
You need liability insurance with a minimum coverage amount equal to two Russian minimum hourly wages per kilogram of maximum takeoff weight. However, we recommend that you have sufficient coverage, as the damage costs are likely to be much higher in the event of an incident.
We have also received (unconfirmed) information that general personal liability insurance is not sufficient. A separate drone insurance policy is required.
Permit for Photo and Video Recording
If you want to take photos or videos with your drone in Russia, you need a permit from the General Staff or the intelligence services. Even as a private individual, you are required to submit all your recordings for review to check for security-relevant content. You may not publish them beforehand.
Penalties
Russian law imposes at least high fines for violations. If you endanger others’ safety, you may face imprisonment. In the worst case, you could be accused of espionage — a charge that is unlikely to end well for you.
The drone rules for Russia listed here were researched to the best of our knowledge. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information. To be sure, please contact the Russian aviation authority. Alternatively, you can ask the Russian embassy in your country for further information. Feel free to leave a comment if you have updates or personal experiences flying a drone in Russia!
As it is now in Moscow, there is no problem flying a small drone (Mavic). Police has no objections with me operating a drone during Moscow Marathon event.
But there is one more problem: there exist serious GPS jamming near the Kremlin and other places in the center of Moscow. Your drone can fly away or think it is suddenly placed in no-fly zone and perform an emergency landing. I would definitely not recommend trying to fly drone in the center of Moscow. In other places it’s ok, welcome 🙂 I would recommend doing that in summer, for weather reasons 🙂
Where on the (www.favt.ru) website do I actually register my drone?
Thanks Dmitry!
I’ read that the laws were changed in Russia in July 2017 and was worried about bringing a drone into Russia.
Do I have to register the drone if I’m not flying it in Russia? (Only bringing it through the country for a few days?) I came across this…
“Currently, UAV registration is regulated by Federal Law No 291 of 3 July, 2016 On Amending the Aviation Code of the Russian Federation.” According to amendments to Article 33, unmanned civilian vehicles weighing between 250 grams and 30 kg must be registered. This regulation came into effect on 5 July 2017, which means that all flying equipment from drones to radio controlled toy helicopters and planes must now be registered”
New regulations have been applied recently, which basically restricts any drones to operate over major cities like Moscow and Saint-Petersburg. Fines have been raised 10x, and now for breaking any new regulations you will get a minimum fine of 20000-50000 rubles (roughly ranging from 300 to 750$ depending on severity) as private person.
Now, to operate drone, you must:
a) Register it
b) Have insurance policy papers for your drone with you
c) Have written permissions from federal security service and joint staff of Russian Federation, in some cases these regulators may ask you to provide a special license for performing cartography-related work
d) Any drone lighter than 30kg must have registration ID and additional permissions for flights from any organization or municipality you plan to fly over
e) In 24 hours before you start flight you must give your flight plan to local air traffic control center
f) In 2 hours before takeoff you need to contact air traffic control dispatch and let them know you are going to perform flight soon
g) After take-off you need to contact dispatch once again and tell them you successfully started your flight
h) After flight you need to contact dispatch once again and report about the end of your operation
i) If you were filming anything, or if you were making photos, you must send your materials to federal security service for control and for removal of secrecy status of the video you filmed.
Yes, it is that ridiculous. In case you want to learn more, you can google translate this article about newest developments in Russian drone laws: https://tass.ru/obschestvo/6376723
Also, here’s Putin’s signed new law about raising fines 10x times (in Russian, obviously): http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001201907260075?index=3&rangeSize=1
Changes from 02/12/2020:
Briefly, what is now possible:
Fly at altitudes of not more than 150 meters;
No need to submit a flight plan and coordinate the flight if your aircraft model weighs less than 30 kg.
To register an aircraft model with a take-off mass of more than 250 grams and up to 30 kg is still necessary!
What you can’t:
You can’t fly in control zones, near airports and control zones, security zones;
You can’t fly over mass events (rallies, competitions, demonstrations, concerts and other cultural events.)
Source: https://profpv.ru/zakon-o-bespilotnikah-v-rf-nuzhno-li-reg/