Is Russia switching from Windows to Linux?
Russia is moving state bodies from Windows to domestic Linux systems, led by Astra Linux. After 2022 most Russian organisations could no longer buy or upgrade Windows licences, and Presidential Decree No. 166 requires a transition to locally produced software. Tatarstan, for example, replaced Windows on more than 150,000 state computers.
- Announced
- Pilot
- Rolling out
- Widely deployed
Scope: State bodies and regional governments; not the consumer market. Updated Oct 6, 2026.
What operating system does Russian government use?
- Astra Linux
Debian-based, developed by Rusbitech and cleared in 2019 for use in the most sensitive government offices.
- Other domestic systems
Russian programmes also name domestic Linux builds such as ALT Linux and RED OS alongside Astra.
Russia’s Linux timeline
- 2019
Astra Linux receives the “special importance” security clearance, allowing use in the most sensitive government offices.
- 2022
Licensing for Western software dries up and Presidential Decree No. 166 sets the course for domestic software in the public sector.
- Since 2022
Regions such as Tatarstan roll Astra Linux out across ministries and municipal bodies.
What is still unclear
This is a general picture, not a measurement.
- The 150,000 figure is one region’s own report; we found no verified national total.
- Windows is still widely used, and a 2025 national deadline is mentioned in some reports that we could not confirm.
Could Russia switch to Linux in the future?
What to watch next:
- National progress reports from the Ministry of Digital Development
- Whether regions beyond Tatarstan publish completed migrations
Sources
Russia: common questions
Is Russia switching from Windows to Linux?
Government bodies are. Since 2022 Western vendors have stopped selling to most Russian organisations and Decree No. 166 pushes the public sector toward domestic software, mainly Astra Linux, a Debian-based system.
What Linux does Russia use?
Astra Linux is the best known; it is Debian-based and cleared for the most sensitive government work. Other domestic systems exist, including ALT Linux and RED OS.
Other countries
Want to try it yourself? Read how to switch from Windows to Linux.