Private Video Surveillance Systems See Massive Sales Growth in Russia
Between January and August, Russians purchased 84% more video surveillance system kits compared to the same period last year, according to Citilink. Sales of alarm systems, intercoms, call panels, locks, and monitors increased by 41% year-over-year, while demand for video cameras, DVRs, and related accessories rose by 35%. Additionally, Citilink reported a 20–25% increase in sales within the “surveillance cameras” category.
Ivan Polikarpov, head of office equipment, networking, and accessories procurement at Citilink, explained that the surge in demand is driven by increased renovation work—both in private homes and office spaces.
According to MTS, home security devices were purchased 120% more frequently in their network from January to August compared to the previous year. Ivan Goryachev, head of automation and security systems at Smart Home diHouse (part of the Lanit group), also confirmed the heightened demand for video surveillance systems. In the first quarter alone, sales of IP cameras grew by 55–60%, with the highest demand for home and outdoor IP cameras, motion sensors, and window opening sensors that integrate with smart home systems.
Meanwhile, MegaFon’s sales director David Borzilov noted that there was no significant change in these product categories, although sales did increase by 3% in September.
Reasons Behind the Increased Demand
One market participant believes the heightened demand for security systems among Russians is due to “uncertainty and tension” in the country: “Currently, due to issues with imported auto parts, people prefer to secure their vehicles by updating alarms and installing dashcams more frequently, and they use video surveillance to protect their property.”
Denis Kuskov, CEO of TelecomDaily, pointed out that Russia is already third in the world for the number of video surveillance systems, after China and the United States, and second in terms of growth rate. Kuskov believes the sales boom is partly due to increased government activity in installing cameras, “which in the future could also be used to track conscripts.” He agrees that demand in the private and business sectors may continue to grow, and even intensify, “due to fears of looting and unrest in the event of martial law.”