On 18 February, four RPL teams participated in friendly matches in UAE and Turkey.

FC Rostov 3-0 Ararat-Armenia

The Yellow-Blues played their final match at UAE camp against team from Armenia, who previously ended in draw against Zenit and Ural. Khoren Bayramyan broke the deadlock through the penalty, and Maksim Osipenko doubled the lead before the half-time. Stepan Melnikov scored the third goal to fix the win. Not counting Winter Cup matches in Abu Dhabi, Rostov won all three planned games.

Ural Ekaterinburg 2-0 Ararat-Armenia

Teams met for the second time, and now Ural came with win, their only during the winter. Eric Bicfalvi scored the first goal, and Rai Vloet extended the lead converting the penalty.

Rostov and Ural will meet each other in the Russian Cup RPL Path quarter-finals, first leg to be played at Rostov Arena on 22 February, and second leg to take place at Ekaterinburg Arena five days later.

FC Sochi 4-2 Fakel Voronezh

As both sides were eliminated from Russian Cup, their camps continued in Turkey with head-to-head match. First half ended with 3-1 score in favor to Sochi with goals from Joaozinho, Kirill Zaika and Georgy Melkadze, while Fakel’s scorer was Khyzyr Appaev. Second half started with second Appaev goal, but Timofey Shipunov restored two-goal advantage.

Next teams’ friendlies: Tuesday 21 February – Sochi vs Akron; Thursday 23 February – Fakel vs Istiklol