The AI industry in Russia is not doing well. Domestic AI models exist, but they aren't exactly high performers, and many of them are based on the open weight Chinese models - so there is very little reason to use them. IT power users run Western or Chinese models, often through proxies, VPNs or resellers.

AI is being adopted and used, but if there was ever a chance of Russia being an AI power, it died in 2022.

A few formerly-Russian IT companies had their "rainy day" HQs overseas, and leveraged them to slip the noose and leave Russia - brain draining what AI expertise was available in the country. See: Yandex -> Nebius.

They’re just using Claude: https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2026/09/russia-weaponi...

They have access to all the same open models that the rest of the world does, so just fine I would think.