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People group profile · PG046534

The Deaf Russians of the Russian Federation

The Deaf Russians of the Russian Federation, numbering about 1,465,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a community of individuals who are culturally Deaf and actively participate in Deaf culture, often using sign language as their primary means of communication.

They are an indigenous people in the Deaf people cluster of the Deaf Peoples. Their primary religion is Eastern Orthodox Christianity, and they primarily speak Russian Sign Language.

Pray for the Deaf RussiansPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Deaf Russians people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite: Deaf Russian

Fast facts

Country
Russian Federation
Population
1,465,000
Affinity group
Deaf Peoples
People cluster
Deaf
Primary language
Russian Sign Language (rsl)
Primary religion
Eastern Orthodox Christianity
Strategic Progress Index
Engaged yet Unreached
Evangelical
Less than 2%
GSEC
Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
Lostness priority
Pioneer Unreached People Group
Region
Eastern Europe, Europe

Where they live

Gospel status

The Deaf Russians are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.

  • Congregations exist Yes
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Deaf Russians

  • Continue prayer and fasting for this group
  • Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
  • Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people

Primary religion

Eastern Orthodox Christianity · Christianity

80% adherents

Primary language

Russian Sign Language · Sign Language family

100% speak Russian Sign Language

Gospel resources in Russian Sign Language

  • Bible available, published 2018
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings not available
  • Audio resources not available
  • Bible stories not available

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Deaf Russians

  1. 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
  2. Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
  3. Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
  4. Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.

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