In short. Get the company's INN, check its status in the official Russian register, look at its financial statements and court records, screen it against sanctions lists, and make sure every document and bank detail belongs to the same company.

Step 1. Get the INN and OGRN

Every Russian company has two numbers. The INN is the 10-digit taxpayer number. The OGRN is the 13-digit state registration number. Ask the supplier for both and compare them with the contract and the invoice. A 12-digit INN or a 15-digit OGRNIP means you are dealing with a sole proprietor, not a company.

Step 2. Check the registration

Search the INN in the official register of the Federal Tax Service (EGRUL). It shows whether the company is active, in liquidation or reorganisation, when it was registered, its region and its main registered activity. The Federal Tax Service's business transparency service can show extra signals, such as notes that registered data may be unreliable.

Step 3. Look at the financial statements

Russian companies file annual statements, published in the state register of financial statements. Compare the revenue with the volumes the supplier offers you. A company with very small revenue that promises dozens of containers a month needs an explanation.

Step 4. Check courts, bankruptcy and enforcement

Commercial court cases are in the arbitration case files. Look for claims from buyers about unpaid or undelivered goods. Bankruptcy notices are in Fedresurs, and unpaid debts being collected are in the enforcement database of the Federal Bailiff Service.

Step 5. Screen against sanctions lists

Search the company name in the US, EU and UK sanctions lists. Why this matters for a Philippine buyer is explained in our guide Is it legal to import from Russia to the Philippines?

Step 6. Compare everything with your documents

The company name and INN in the contract, the invoice, the bank details and the email address should all point to the same company. If the supplier calls itself a manufacturer, its registered activity and website should support that.

Warning signs

When a professional check makes sense

The registers are free, but most are only in Russian, some may be slow or limited from abroad, and it takes time to read court and financial records correctly. If the deal involves an advance payment, a professional check usually costs far less than the risk.

Want us to check a supplier for you?

An independent review of a Russian company based on public records, with screening against the US, EU and UK sanctions lists and a PDF report in English. From USD 29, payment by GCash.

See the company check

Found an inaccuracy? Please let us know at rus.import.ph@gmail.com. We check every report and update the guide.

Official sources

Checked on 29 September 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is an INN?

The INN is the Russian taxpayer identification number. A company has a 10-digit INN, a sole proprietor or an individual has a 12-digit one. It is usually printed on the contract, invoice and commercial offer.

What is an OGRN?

The OGRN is the state registration number of a Russian company, 13 digits long. Sole proprietors have a 15-digit number called OGRNIP.

Can I check the company myself?

Yes. The official registers listed below are free, but most of them are in Russian, some may be slow or limited from abroad, and reading court and financial records takes experience.

The supplier has no court cases. Is it safe?

Not necessarily. A new company may simply have no history yet. Look at the whole picture: age, filed statements, activity, and whether the documents match the records.

Do you check sole proprietors?

Our paid service covers companies such as OOO and AO only. You can still check a sole proprietor's status yourself in the EGRUL and EGRIP register.