Russia Deploys Homegrown Drilling Robots to Replace Human Crews

Russia’s first fully domestic robotic drilling platform is taking over manual labor in oil and gas operations—especially in extreme northern climates.

Engineers in the Urals have unveiled a new robotic system designed to automate drilling operations in Russia’s oil and gas industry. The system replaces humans in physically demanding and hazardous tasks, building on eight decades of engineering experience—and layering in modern Russian-developed IT solutions.

The robot handles the process of assembling and lowering 'candles'—the drill pipes required for oil and gas extraction. Previously, this task involved multiple workers and relied on hydraulic equipment, which often fails in the freezing temperatures of the Arctic. The new system uses electric servos instead, eliminating the need for constant maintenance.

The entire platform was built from scratch by Uralmash NGO Holding over a two-year period. It is fully Russian-made and designed for land-based drilling, with potential applications in other industrial sectors as well.

By automating complex procedures, the robot dramatically cuts operation time and improves workplace safety. The move signals a shift away from manual labor in Russia’s extraction sector—particularly in harsh environments where automation is essential.