🖐 In this blog post we’ll share all law links and known regulations about recreational and commercial drone use in Russia (Moscow & St Petersburg). Give a 👍 at the end of this post if you enjoyed it & feel free to ask any questions or share your experience in The Forum. Keep in mind that the content below is updated to the best of our knowledge & does not replace official sources & your research.
Recreational vs commercial drone use in Russia
Russia does not differentiate between commercial & recreational drone uses. Both are subject to little restrictions and a small code of conduct.
✅ In Russia, drone laws falls under the Russian State Civil Aviation Authority & they can also be contacted anytime via:
Phone: (+7) 095 155 5395
Can I bring my drone to Russia?
✅ Currently, there doesn't seem to be any restrictions on bringing drones within Russia (Moscow & St Petersburg) as long as your import is considered as legitimate (generally one drone per person).
🚨 Be aware of the airline you purchase to travel as some main ones will only accept your drone on-board if its batteries are detached & placed in a firecase during travel time. Most airlines will have a battery voltage limit based on the recommendation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). You can find more info about a specific airline here.
Where can I fly my drone in Russia?
✅ We did not find an official fly zone map for drones in Russia "If you have more information about this, please share it in the Forum". Thankfully in the meantime, app.airmap.io has listed all flight zones in a convenient way.
Russia drone fly map
🚨 You should not fly above or near military installations & strategic infrastructure. Fly away from airports & any aerodromes or airports in the country & avoid urban areas; to add a little bit on this last point, there has been reporting of GPS jamming in bigger cities' centres which could force your drone to land without much warning.
🦅 National parks & reserves are on a case by case permission & you might need to check directly with the local park or reserve authorities.
⚽ Do not fly over big sporting events.
Recreational & Commercial Drone use in Russia
✅ Good things first, you will not need a permit or a license to fly a drone weighting less than 250 g in Russia as long as you do not fly in a restricted or a forbidden zone.
Saying this, within the permitted zones, you will need to follow a few rules:
fly a drone weighting less than 30 kg
fly your drone away from urban areas, people & respect individuals' privacy.
fly within sight at all times & in god weather only.
it is advised to subscribe to an insurance covering all risks.
fly away from airports, heliports & give priority to all other categories of aircraft. If you see an aircraft during your flight, land immediately.
✅ For drones over 250 g, you should normally register your aircraft by law but the system doesn't seem to have been put in place by the Russian authorities just yet. "Please let us know in the Forum if you have any further information about this"
🚁 If you are considering getting your first drone or upgrade, feel free to check the Drone Gear content we've put together or click on the model you like below to get its full specs. Any purchase done from one of our affiliate links helps Dronemade stay free and available to all.
😍 There are no set max altitude cruise flights in Russia allowing drone owners the wildest experiments. Nevertheless, & despite how cool this is, we want to remind everyone how dangerous flying this high can become without permission as this is manned aircraft zone.
How to register my drone in Russia?
🚨 The process isn't set up just yet. If you are aware of a change or have some further information, please share it with all in The Forum so we can update this post in turn.
🕔 However, Russian authorities specified to allow 10 working days for administration to register your drone (once process up).
💲 If your drone weights between 250 g & 30 kg, its free. If your drone weights more than 30 kg, then it will cost you around 5€ (once process up).
What do I risk for flying a drone illegally in Russia?
The amount & scope of the fine will depend on the nature & severity of your infraction. The judges will also evaluate if you intentionally committed the infraction and/or if you had any commercial purposes to do such.
Once you've got everything in order, you can start flying above Russia's awesome landscapes and create videos like this one:
✅Please leave a comment or update the Forum when you receive news and/or gain experience with your drone in the Russia! Have fun and safe flight!
Disclaimer: Although great care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information researched, we take no responsibility for any loss, harm or damage caused as a direct or indirect consequence of relying on this information. It is your responsibility to seek advice from qualified local & relevant authorities for needed information about drone rules.
Other resource
Sources