Artificial Intelligence in Russia Tracks Criminals and Protects Livestock
Russia’s experience shows how AI can strengthen public safety and food security, offering a potential model for other countries.
In Russia, artificial intelligence is increasingly being deployed to protect both people and animals. In the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, neural networks helped identify and detain more than 500 wanted criminals over the course of a year. Meanwhile, in the Orenburg region, drones have been used to uncover serious violations of veterinary regulations at agricultural enterprises.
Together, these projects illustrate how digital transformation is reshaping approaches to law enforcement and food security.
Tracking Wanted and Missing Persons
NtechLab, a technology partner of the state-owned corporation Rostec, has supplied the Yamalo-Nenets region with advanced facial recognition algorithms. The system analyzes real-time video feeds from nearly 2,000 urban cameras. Identification accuracy exceeds 99.9%, making it possible to locate not only criminal suspects but also missing persons – more than 1,200 people were found over the past year alone.
According to regional authorities, neural networks are now involved in solving one out of every four crimes in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District. In 2026, the partnership is set to expand, with license plate recognition systems to be introduced to help track stolen and suspicious vehicles.
Drones as a Monitoring Tool
At the same time, equally innovative methods are being applied in the agricultural sector. In the Orenburg region, inspectors from Russia’s agricultural watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor have begun regularly using drones to monitor farming operations. In 2025, seven such inspections were carried out.
Drones can rapidly survey large areas and detect violations such as the absence of protective fencing, improper manure storage and failure to meet sanitary infrastructure requirements. These issues increase the risk of wild animals entering farms, potentially spreading dangerous diseases and triggering outbreaks.
For example, during an inspection of a farm in the Orenburg district, a drone recorded the lack of fencing, the absence of a designated manure site and unpaved access roads. Inspectors issued a formal warning and required the farmer to eliminate all violations.
These projects highlight Russia’s integrated approach to the digital transformation of public administration. Their successful deployment in harsh Arctic conditions in Yamal and across vast steppe territories in the Orenburg region demonstrates their reliability and effectiveness. Russia’s experience could serve as a valuable reference for other countries seeking to improve quality of life through technology.
