A Russian Company Moves to Replace Microsoft Office With a Homegrown Desktop Suite

Handling Even Complex Documents

The software was added to the Ministry’s official software registry on December 15 last year. The platform was built on Yandex’s proprietary Arcane engine. Earlier, Yandex had already registered a web version of Yandex Dokumenty, as well as a local version that runs through the Yandex Browser. The key difference this time is that the new applications will be installed directly on users’ computers and will not require an internet connection. In the first quarter of 2026, desktop versions of the Documents and Spreadsheets apps will become available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. They are designed to be compatible with MS Office and capable of handling files with complex or non-standard formatting.

All Core Features Included

From launch, users will be able to edit, comment on, and review documents, with cloud synchronization to be added later. The suite will also support creating new documents and spreadsheets, opening files stored locally on Yandex Disk, and performing edits and calculations in spreadsheets using arithmetic operations and built-in functions. The desktop version will evolve in parallel with the web version. Yandex Dokumenty is built on Yandex’s own technology platform. Notably, the desktop editors will support OOXML formats, including docx, doc, xlsx, xls, and others.

According to the developers, the roadmap includes integration with other Yandex services, a rapid development cycle, and regular feature updates. While Yandex Dokumenty is positioned as an alternative to Microsoft Office, long-term success will depend on product stability and the completeness of its feature set.

The departure of foreign companies from our market opened a window of opportunity for the IT sector, and many companies have used it effectively. Many of them have significantly improved the maturity of their products and filled the gaps that emerged. Russian core system software is being actively deployed – including operating systems, office applications, and virtualization platforms. Over the past three years, sales of this type of software have doubled

Mikhail Mishustin

Prime Minister of the Russian Federation

Security was a key priority during development. The infrastructure used to store source code and compiled binaries, as well as the tools used to build the software, are located in Russian data centers, a measure aimed at meeting local security and compliance requirements.

A Catalyst for Competition

The arrival of a desktop version of Yandex Dokumenty is expected to intensify competition among Russian office software providers such as MyOffice and R7-Office. For Russia’s IT sector, the launch of a full desktop office suite by Yandex represents a significant step toward reducing reliance on foreign software products.

Looking ahead, Yandex Dokumenty could be adopted by government agencies, businesses, and educational institutions as part of a broader import-substitution software stack. Software independence, including in office applications, is increasingly viewed as a component of national security. At a countrywide level, the goal is not only to preserve existing IT infrastructure but also to expand a domestic software market.

If developers succeed in achieving high compatibility with MS Office, the product could attract interest beyond Russia, particularly in countries with limited access to Western software. Over the longer term, Yandex Dokumenty could be promoted in CIS markets and emerging economies in the Global South, with potential integration of AI-based features to boost productivity.