Russia supports a total ban on the sale of electronic cigarettes

Russian authorities are considering a total ban on the sale of electronic cigarettes throughout the country.[1]. The government expressed its support for this proposal, put forward by parliamentarians and public health experts, deeming it a necessary measure to protect the population, particularly young people. According to estimates by the RIA Novosti news agency, between 3.5 and 4 million Russians currently use e-cigarettes, a figure far lower than the 22.5 million adult smokers in Russia estimated by Tobacco Atlas in 2022, highlighting the tobacco industry's powerful grip on a country whose tobacco profits help finance the war economy.

A project supported by public authorities and health officials

According to the TASS news agency, the president, during his visit to a demonstration and awareness center for adapted sports in Samara, approved the idea of a total ban on the sale of electronic cigarettes in Russia.

The leader of the "Healthy Homeland" movement cited to the head of state the examples of countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), an intergovernmental organization of former Soviet republics, and other countries that had already implemented such bans. The president approved the idea, specifying that the government, represented by the deputy prime minister, shared this position.

The State Duma (the lower house of Parliament) largely mobilized in favor of this ban. Its speaker described e-cigarettes as "« liquid poison »"and recalled that 74% of the 265,000 people surveyed in a public poll support a complete ban. The Duma plans to introduce a bill to completely ban e-cigarettes throughout Russia during its autumn session," said the Deputy Speaker of the Duma.[2].

Authorities have suggested that the final version of the bill may also include additional restrictions on the advertising and packaging of nicotine products.

Existing measures at the federal level, such as the ban on the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors in 2023, are considered insufficient by several members of parliament.

Experiments and measures that are preparing for the national ban

With government approval and the support of the consumer protection agency Rospotrebnadzor, the governor of Nizhny Novgorod recently launched a regional pilot project banning e-cigarettes, e-liquids, and heated tobacco. The governor cited protecting the health of young people as a primary reason for the measure, along with the desire to denormalize vaping.

In response, the governor of the Republic of Dagestan also proposed his region for a pilot project to completely ban the retail sale of e-cigarettes.[4].

Vologda could also be one of the first Russian regions where e-cigarettes will be banned, since the regional governor is known to be one of the most ardent opponents of e-cigarettes.[5].

" A total ban on vaping should be introduced gradually, in specific regions and as a pilot project, accompanied by a comprehensive monitoring mechanism, so that this practice can then be generalized nationwide. »", stressed a member of the Russian Lawyers Association.

Russia is not alone in this situation, as many countries have already decided to ban the sale of electronic cigarettes. In the former Soviet bloc, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan have already prohibited the sale and distribution of electronic cigarettes, and this ban is also the case in a large number of countries worldwide.[6].

Russia remains a very fertile ground for the tobacco industry, which helps to finance a war economy.

These efforts to combat vaping are not as pronounced when it comes to traditional tobacco. Yet, according to 2022 data from the Tobacco Atlas, 42% of men and 14.8% of women aged 15 and over are smokers in Russia, with smoking accounting for 9.3% of deaths in the country, making it a major cause of premature and preventable mortality. The tobacco industry has been particularly prominent in Russia since the collapse of the USSR: the Russian state granted its tobacco monopoly to private multinationals, whose aggressive marketing strategies led to a rapid increase in consumption.[7].

If a Russian bill was considering banning the sale of tobacco and nicotine products to people born after 2009, major tobacco manufacturers such as Philip Morris International (PMI) and Japan Tobacco International (JTI) remain deeply embedded in the Russian economy and contribute to financially supporting the war economy Against Ukraine: In 2021, Russia accounted for approximately 10% of Philip Morris's tobacco product sales and 6% of its net revenue of $31 billion. Similarly, Japan Tobacco derives 20% of its global tobacco profits from the Russian market; JTI employs over 4,000 people and owns four factories in Russia.

In 2022, these companies respectively earned US$7.9 billion and US$7.4 billion in profit and paid hundreds of millions in corporate income tax to Russia, US$206 million for Philip Morris and US$193 million for Japan Tobacco.

Initially, PMI and JTI announced their intention to withdraw from the Russian market following the invasion of Ukraine. However, these two tobacco giants ultimately maintained their presence, citing the financial consequences of leaving for themselves and their investors.

Ukrainian authorities and several NGOs have denounced the role of the tobacco industry in indirectly financing the war in Ukraine. The activities of tobacco manufacturers constitute a significant source of revenue for the Russian state, which uses it to finance its war effort.[8].

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[1]Big News Network, Putin backs total vape ban, Published on November 7, 2025, accessed the same day

[2]Xinhua, Putin supports national ban on vape sales in Russia, China Daily, published on November 7, 2025, accessed the same day

[3]Anton Kulikov, Putin Approves Nationwide Ban on Vape Sales in Russia, Pravda.Ru, published November 6, 2025, accessed November 7, 2025

[4]2firsts, Dagestan Proposes Pilot Ban on E-Cigarette Sales, Submits Request to State Duma, Published on October 21, 2025, accessed on November 7, 2025

[5]2firsts, Features | Vape Politics in Russia: Local Governments Push Forward Despite Legislative Deadlock, Published on October 28, 2025, accessed on November 7, 2025

[6]Global Center for Good Governance in Tobacco Control, E-CIGARETTE BAN & REGULATION: Global Status as of May 2025, Published in 2025, accessed on November 13, 2025A

[7]Tobacco-free generation, The State and Tobacco: When the Promoter Is Also the Regulatory Authority, Published on September 6, 2025, accessed on November 13, 2025

[8]Tobacco-free generation, Tobacco multinationals: persistent links with Russia and Belarus despite their public announcements, Published on December 18, 2024, accessed on November 13, 2025

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