Background: In 2014 Cochrane initiated its translation strategy. The Russian translation project was started in May 2014 by a team of volunteers from the Kazan Federal University, an affiliated center in Tatarstan of the Nordic Cochrane Centre. Objectives: To assess the quality of Russian translations of Cochrane Plain Language Summaries (PLS) and their potential impact on the Russian speaking community through user feedback with the aim of furthering the translation project. Methods: We conducted an online survey (3-24 March 2015) via Google Docs. We invited respondents through the electronic Russian language discussion forum on Essential Medicines (E-lek), links to a survey on the Russian cochrane.org website, and invitations to Cochrane contributors registered in Archie from potential Russian-speaking countries. We set up the survey in Russian and English. Results: By 24 March 65 people had taken part in our survey (56 in Russian, 9 in English), mostly representing health professions (n = 48; 74%). The Russian text of translations and basic meaning were clear to the majority of respondents (n = 63; 97%) to varying degrees. The respondents rated the quality of translations as 'excellent' (n = 20; 31%), 'good' (n = 33; 51%) and 'satisfactory' (n = 9; 14%). All respondents noted good compliance of the Russian translation with the original English text. Nearly all of them recognized the need for Cochrane evidence for Russia and Russian-speaking countries (n = 63, 97%), for their work/school/life (n = 61; 94%) and the potential impact on their practice/attitude to drugs or diagnostic procedures (n = 60; 92%). Many respondents (n = 42; 65%) preferred translation texts worded in Russian without precise compliance to the original text; 24 respondents volunteered to become members of the translation project. We received valuable suggestions for improvement and further development of the Russian translation project. Conclusions: The survey provided positive feedback so far. We will continue the survey to confirm or adjust our findings as we translate more PLS and to reach out to a wider audience and to attract new volunteers to work in the project.